Ogoga/Olukere chieftaincy crisis: Ekiti monarchs wade in

The Ekiti State Council of Obas has waded into the chieftaincy crisis in Ikere by starting a fact-finding process in the controversy surrounding the Ogoga and Olukere chieftaincy stools.

The traditional council chaired by the Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti, Oba Samuel  Oyebade, has began a process of interaction with the two warring factions to prevent what many have seen as “a looming anarchy in the town.”

The committee, comprising 16 leading royal fathers in Ekiti fondly called Pelupelu, according to the council, has commenced interaction with the factions starting from the Olukere of Ikere, Oba Ganiyu Adesoyin.

The Olukere and the current Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu, a first class traditional ruler in the state, had been embroiled  in a conflict over the status of Olukere in the history of Ikere community.

While the Olukere had maintained that he is a monarch, citing historical evidences, the Ogoga had insisted that the Olukere is a priest in the community.

The interaction was conducted behind closed doors in the chambers of the council located within the old governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

When he emerged from the chambers, the Olukere said he had “confidence in the ability of the traditional rulers to do justice to my case.”

Oba Obasoyin insisted that he remained “the founder and recognised king in the town contrary to a position canvassed  by the Ogoga that he remains a mere chief priest.”

Olukere said he had stated his own side of the historical antecedents of Ikere-Ekiti in line with intelligence report compiled  by C.O. Weir on Ikere town in 1933, where he said it was explicitly stated that he was a recognised crowned traditional ruler and founder of the town.

“I have  told the traditional rulers how I founded Ikere kingdom and how I accommodated  Ogoga, who came from Agama, a village close to Akure in Ondo State.

“Ogoga called himself  a prince from Benin City and if this is the case, let him tell the whole world who his father was  in Benin dynasty. History doesn’t lie, except you are trying to pad it. When you stand on the truth, nothing will make you waver and this is what is happening at the moment.

“In Yoruba land, Olu is an Oba anywhere  with staff of office and Ikere can’t be  an exception. Again, intelligence report is the most powerful document in any historical issue and that is what I rest my case on before the traditional rulers, who are also the owners of the land,” he said.