Ekiti State has acquired an enviable reputation as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria and this is an attraction for investors wishing to do business there. Since coming back to the governorship seat on October 16, 2018, Governor Kayode Fayemi has been working round the clock to ensure that peace reigns in all communities. This is because of his belief that nothing meaningful can be achieved in an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy. The governor always stresses that for the state to enjoy sustainable development, peace is very essential.
The governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, is aware of early warning signals of conflict in towns and villages in Ekiti State. Hence, he is always proactive in ensuring that conflict is prevented from snowballing into crisis.
Kingship, chieftaincy and boundary/land matters are very sensitive in a state like Ekiti, which is highly communal in nature. This, the governor has identified, as avenues for conflict and this has informed putting in place conflict resolution mechanisms.
The office of the deputy governor has been saddled with the oversight functions over kingship/chieftaincy and boundary/land matters in a bid to ensure that issues arising there from are given serious attention they deserve. The deputy governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, is a round peg in a round hole when it comes to matters relating to chieftaincy and land matters and he has brought his knowledge of the law and experience in the traditional institution to bear in resolving them to the admiration of all.
Having been a lawyer for about 40 years, chieftaincy and land matters have been Egbeyemi’s favourite cases and this has helped in his current assignment as the deputy governor with an oversight over such issues.
The deputy governor always impressed it upon traditional rulers, kingmakers, community leaders, political and religious leaders he interacts with on daily basis that Governor Fayemi is a man of peace who wants the peace of Ekiti to be maintained to sustain its development.
In resolving many knotty chieftaincy and land crisis brought to his attention since the administration came to power, Egbeyemi always emphasises that stakeholders should always seek the peace of the state to help the governor deliver on his five-pillar development blueprint.
Inside the conference hall of Egbeyemi’s office, feuding communities have become friends, Obas have been reconciled with their chiefs, land disputes that could have degenerated into loss of lives and property are regularly resolved amicably.
Communities that had been engulfed by tension over bitter rows on ascension to their thrones and boundary disputes not only have their tension doused but now enjoy peace by amicable settlement brought about by the government intervention.
The timely intervention of the state government saved the Owalogbo of Ilogbo Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Oba Edward Jayeola from untimely deposition by his subjects who were protesting the alleged invasion of the community by suspected cultists.
Oba Jayeola was evicted from his palace for about four months in the heat of the crisis. After five rounds of peace meetings presided over by the deputy governor, the monarch was reconciled with his subjects and restored to the throne.
Also, the Obasaoye of Isaoye Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Olajide, who was locked in a bitter dispute with his subjects over issues of tradition in the community was restored to his position after leaving the palace for a few months.
The government intervention was done in collaboration with the traditional rulers in Moba Local Government Area led by the immediate past Oore of Otun Ekiti, the late Oba Adedapo Popoola who reached out to all interest groups.
Government also resolved disagreement among traditional rulers over sundry issues. For example, in Ijero and Moba Local Government Areas, the issue of pay disparity among the monarchs following the promotion of some of them from Grade C to Grade B and Grade B to Grade C, was settled amicably.
Following the state government intervention, the Alare of Are Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi, was reconciled with 30 chiefs under him who had boycotted the palace for about six months over a feud with their monarch.
Also, the state government brokered peace between the Elerio of Erio Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area, Oba Johnson Bamigbade, and six senior high chiefs who had boycotted the palace for over five years over differences with the monarch. Both parties in the two cases hailed the state government for the intervention which they noted had brought peace to their communities.
Being a democrat, Egbeyemi is always patient in listening to parties present their cases, taking oral and documentary evidences and painstakingly considering them before arriving at decisions.
Presentation of staff of office and instrument of appointment is the peak and final step of installing an Oba in Yoruba land of which Ekiti is part. The assignment is usually performed by the deputy governor on behalf of Mr. Governor.
Ascension to the throne in Yoruba land is highly competitive because is not a position that is open for competition every two, three, four or eight years like elective political offices hence interested parties do everything humanly possible to win the stool.
One of the indices that have assisted the Fayemi administration to succeed in the task of installing monarchs is its belief in the rule of law and due process.
Filling of royal stools is a process that involves official communication among the kingmakers, the Ruling Houses, the concerned local government area, the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs and the State Executive Council.
Since the second coming of Fayemi, 15 vacant royal stools have been successfully filled with the new traditional rulers receiving their staffs of office and instruments of appointment.
The new kings have since settled down to the business of day-to-day running of their communities galvanising their subjects for social and economic development of their domains.
Having these royals on the throne is giving their communities a sense of direction and further opportunities to embark on self help and community development projects and positively project the culture and tradition of their people.
Another policy of the Fayemi’s administration that has gladdened the hearts of many people in the grass roots was the autonomy granted five communities whose applications were approved by the Justice Babajide Aladejana Chieftaincy Review Commission.
The autonomy was recommended by the Aladejana Commission and approved by the State Executive Council in October 2019. The implication of the autonomy which was granted after fulfilling stipulated conditions was that they have become self governing and independent communities.
The new communities are Ijowa in Ikole Local Government, Isaya and Ahan Ayegunle in Ekiti East Local Government Owatedo in Ijero Local Government and Iro Ayeteju in Gbonyin Local Government. Their new status gave them the privilege to have their own traditional rulers.
Speaking at the presentation of staff of office to one of the new traditional rulers, Governor Fayemi, who was represented by his deputy, said: “The request for autonomy by different communities was granted in line with best practices across the globe which are essentially development-focused.
“Let me restate that granting of autonomy to any community in Ekiti State is not an attempt to unreasonably factionalise or disintegrate a hitherto compact community for any ulterior motive of political gains, but a response to the genuine demand of people who believe that their recognition would enhance their development.
“This exercise was not designed to breed hatred, rancour, nepotism and other negative dispositions that could negate harmonious coexistence with former allied towns.”
The Fayemi administration has succeeded in dousing tension sparked by boundary disputes among neighbouring communities following its intervention aimed at preventing loss of lives and property.
Neighbouring communities of Orun Ekiti and Igbemo Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local are now living in peace following a strong warning from the state government on violence that erupted on a bus stop shed constructed on the boundary.
The deputy governor during a visit to the communities read a riot act which he described as a “yellow card” to them never to allow such vandalism to occur again as government was ready to enforce peace with every instrument of coercion at its disposal.
Resolution of boundary disputes between Ido Ekiti and Osi Ekiti, Osin Ekiti and Ilupeju Ekiti, Ikun Ekiti and Ikosun Ekiti and Ipoti Ekiti, Ejiyan Ekiti and Owatedo Ekiti are at advanced stages with committees of which the state Surveyor General and other critical stakeholders are members.
The Fayemi’s administration’s peace efforts in communities are yielding dividends and this is giving an impetus to its quest to ensure sustainable development in the grassroots.
- Ogunmola is the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State.
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