By Charles Ayodele
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon Olaiya Atibioke, has refuted the allegation levelled against him by a group in Itapa Ekiti that he was working with some Chiefs in Itapa Ekiti to unseat Oba (Dr) David Makanjuola Ajaja, the Owatapa of Itapa Ekiti.
Withheld stipends of aggrieved chiefs kept in the envelopes.
Speaking with journalists in his Office, the commissioner said he has no hand in the crisis between Owatapa and his chiefs, saying the installation of Oloriawo was reported to have been the genesis of the crisis in the town which had been resolved .
He said, probably the king did not fulfill his own part of the resolution which might have occasioned series of petitions against the monarch.
Earlier, a concerned group from Itapa-Ekiti at a Press conference alleged that Hon Atibioke was working with Chief Ebenezer Kolawole, the Obaisa and few other chiefs from the town to unseat the king.
According to the group, “We have watched with keen interest, the unholy and unprogressive alliance of Hon. Atibioke with few chiefs in Itapa-Ekiti to disrupt the peaceful co-existence in the ancient town with the promise to help them remove Owatapa.
“Mr Atibioke is instigating the crisis to support the bidding of his close friend and ally (Chief Ebenezer Abiodun Kolawole, the Obaisa of Itapa kingdom) who was outrightly rejected by all residents of Itapa-Ekiti to frustrate the giant strides of the monarch towards the development of Itapa Ekiti.
Atibioke was alleged to have helped the few warring chiefs to submit a petition to unseat Oba David Makanjuola Ajaja at the Deputy Governor’s office.
“It’s on this premise, we call on Governor Oyebanji and his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, to urgently call Hon Atibioke to order and stop causing crisis in our peaceful town, Itapa Ekiti.” The group said.
The Obaisa of Itapa Ekiti, Chief Ebenezer KOLAWOLE Abiodun denied orchestrating violence in the town, he admitted that there were squabbles between the monarch and some Chiefs which according to him was caused by the removal of the former Oloriawo of the town, Chief Kehinde Osanyingbemi, without committing any offence. The Chief confirmed that he would speak further when Government Call them for interrogation
In an interview with the monarch, Oba (Dr) David Makanjuola Ajaja said he was not unaware of the petitions submitted to the office of the Deputy Governor, saying it was the work of some of his chiefs who were not comfortable with his Progressive leadership style. Adding that he had done everything humanly possible to maintain peace and development in Itapa Ekiti .
“The petitions emanated from my detractors who were not comfortable with my intellectual and progressive leadership style to move the town forward. The lies they peddled around could not be substantiated. Some of my chiefs resulted to skirmishes and unhealthy rivalry against me because I refused to promote them unduly and they stopped coming to Ibode for meetings.
The monarch posited that he had always allowed the chiefs to express their views on matters about the town. “I believe in Democracy, I had never lord myself on my chiefs over any issue or matter, I allowed them make their decisions while I ratified”.
Speaking on the withheld stipends of the chiefs, the monarch who has all the money kept in different envelopes which he showed to journalists in his palace said,
he’s ready to hand over to them once they start attending Ibode meetings (Council of Chiefs) which he said the chiefs had boycotted since March 18, 2024.
The monarch who maintained that he was misled by his second in command (now late) to install the former oloriawo, Chief Kehinde Osanyingbemi, who the royal father said had been relieved of his position as it was not the turn of his quarters, explained that he had corrected the mistake by allowing the Oloriawos in the town install the person that fits for the post.
The monarch said Chief Temitope Ajayi, the Apeye oko joogun 2 was chosen and installed over seven years ago.