The Ekiti State Government, has barred a traditional title holder and Odofin of Afao quarters, Ikere Ekiti, in Ikere Local Government Area, Chief Rufus Olayinka from wearing a royal crown when the area he superintends over has not been granted full autonomy.
The government said it was a flagrant violation of the Ekiti State Chief Law for Chief Olayinka to be adorning himself in royal regalia, when the autonomy being agitated for has not been granted by Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration.
Meanwhile, reprieve has come for the embattled Chief, as the government lifted the suspension slammed on him by the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu and members of his council for alleged insubordination and disrespect to the paramount ruler.
Oba Adu, had written a petition to the state government, alleging that Odofin was disrespecting his stool and acting in a manner that denigrates his position as the prescribed authority in the town.
The monarch in the petition accused the embattled Chief of parading himself as Oloja Afao without being granted autonomy, which was against the Ekiti State Chief Law.
Presiding over the matter, on Friday, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, contended that it was an aberration for Odofin to have worn a crown or change his title to Oloja Afao when the government has not acceded to his request for a full autonomy.
However, Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Media Assistant, Victor Ogunje, described as null and void , the suspension of Odofin from Ogoga-in Council, saying the process was inchoate since the letter to that effect was not made available to the state government.
“Our position is that, Odofin can’t be wearing a crown when his quarters, which is under Ikere Ekiti, has not been granted full autonomy. Again, he can’t change his title from Odofin to Oloja Afao, this is utterly wrong and disrespectful. It is like jumping the gun.
“Henceforth, he should stop wearing a crown or bear any other title than Odofin. But concerning his suspension, we have no evidence before us to show that he was suspended because we have no letter to that effect . So, this suspension can’t hold”.
The Deputy Governor also mandated Odofin to be attending any meeting convened by Oba Adu, even if it is once in a month, in spite of his health challenge.
At the peace meeting, the Sapetu of Ikere Ekiti, Chief Olufemi Babatola, who represented the Ogoga, submitted that the matter could have been resolved earlier than now, if Odofin and Afao community had acceded to the initial government and security agencies’ trouble- shooting interventions.
Ogoga said it was stunning that the suspended Odofin could make himself a monarch even without his knowledge and that of the state government.
Speaking on behalf of the estranged Chief, the spokespersons of Afao community, Hon. Tokunbo Omotayo and Pastor Rufus Akeredolu, said though the community was making agitations over autonomy, saying this would not coerce them to disrespect Ogoga, the paramount ruler of the kingdom .
They said the problem started when they started agitating for autonomy in Ikere Ekiti, adding that their mission was to fast track development in that section of Ikere Ekiti and not to divide the town or cause disaffection.
“In our agitations for autonomy, we made it clear that it will be under the paramount ruler of Ogoga of Ikere if granted. We wouldn’t have said this if we didn’t recognise Ogoga’s supremacy.
“We agree with all that the government had said and we will comply accordingly”.