A kingship tussle in Awo-Ekiti community in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area has degenerated into a crisis.
Members of the community told newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, that the matter had snowballed into a crisis last weekend, a situation they said had forced the palace to be shut while the monarch escaped to a mosque for refuge.
Following this development, the Ekiti State government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the town.
The restriction of movement will be from 6pm to 6am.
A government statement on Monday directed the Commissioner of Police in the state to ensure compliance to the restrictions.
The statement signed by Fayose’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, said the curfew was with immediate effect.
It said: “We are calling on the people of the town to embrace peace and toe the line of civility in resolving their differences.
“We are also assuring our people that religious crisis will have no place in Ekiti. We are one regardless of our political affiliations and this, our government will maintain.
Sources in the community sad the issue had been smouldering in the last one year following the enthronement of Prince Azees Olaleye Aladejuyigbe as the new Alawo of Awo Ekiti, before it snowballed into anarchy on Saturday.
Part of the anger was the allegation that the state government presented Aladejuyigbe with instruments of office shortly after his announcement as the new Alawo, with allegations that there was no room for litigation which they said could stall his installation.
The monarch was said to have been barred from palace since enthronement and he was said to be sleeping in the mosque since the crisis escalated last weekend.
Aladejuyigbe, according to sources was not the preferred candidate of the elites of the town and kingmakers but was said to have been enjoying government’s backing, the development had caused a cold war in the town.
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