The Ekiti State Government, has expressed worries over the crisis trailing the emergence of two family heads popularly called “Elerebi” within the Attah Esubiyi Royal Dynasty of Ayede Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of the state, thereby stoking the ember of discord in the town.
The government, who sued for peace, warned that the festering division and mounting tension within the royal family could adversely affect the existing peace and unity in the town and stall its development.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, handed down the warning, on Tuesday, while intervening in a chieftaincy brawl brewing in the royal family through a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje.
The mediation was sequel to a letter written by Attah of Ayede Ekiti, Oba Abdulmumini Orisagbemi, informing the government that he had installed Prince Abiodun Alegbeleye, as family Head of Esubiyi Dynasty.
Conversely, in another letter written by the family, it was conveyed to the government that the oldest man in the dynasty, Prince Oreoluwa Fabunmi, had been installed Elerebi based on the Deputy Governor’s advice given during a meeting held on December 17, 2024.
Mediating in the matter, Mrs Afuye, posited that though the family didn’t err by installing the the eldest Prince, but blamed the members for not properly briefed Oba Orisagbemi or carried him along as the prescribed authority and member of the family.
She described the process leading to the ascension of Prince Fabunmi to the exalted seat as faulty and disrespectful to Attah’s coveted position.
The Deputy Governor appealed to the monarch to go home and reconvene a meeting of the family and deploy proper internal mechanism to resolve the matter.
Mrs Afuye warned that Governor Biodun Oyebanji wont tolerate any form of uprising or violence in Ekiti communities on account of chieftaincy, describing the current government as an apostle of peace , unity and development.
“We agree with you that the installation of Prince Ore Fabunmi followed the advice given by this office that the eldest Prince is always installed as Elerebi in the Royal Family. But I instructed you to carry Kabiyesi along.
“You can’t appoint anyone into that position without his knowledge, this action was wrong and disrespectful to his position. Go back home and make amends.
“Governor Oyebanji is after peace and he won’t tolerate any bloodshed in any town on account of chieftaincy crisis. You should know that you represent the royal family. You are the symbol of the town. Your actions and inactions will automatically speak volume. Ensure that you settle this matter amicably to protect your respect”.
In his submission, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon Ojo Atibioke, said the resolution was that the family should go and sit with the monarch and resolve the matter and then pick a suitable person to occupy the seat.
Atibioke added that a situation whereby someone was picked and then announced without notifying the palace was wrong and flied in the face of tradition.
“We expected you to have reported back to us that the monarch was not complying with the government’s directive, but you didn’t do this. You are now having two family heads, which can lead to violence.
” I consider it a mistake that you didn’t consult the monarch in this matter. I appeal to you to pursue peace for the sake of development of Ayede kingdom”.
Defending his actions, Oba Orisagbemi, said he decided to install the second eldest prince in the family upon getting information that the installed Elerebi, Prince Fabunmi and his supporters were planning to remove him as a king.
Oba Orisagbemi accused those who contested against him during the selection process 10 years ago of allegedly planning his deposition over accusation that he was not part of the family, saying the Elerebi card was part of the plots to get at him.
“I want to appreciate the state government for not getting tired on this matter. We are for peace and I will continue to pursue peace. But I can’t fold my hands and allow those plotting to remove me to have their ways. They have been bragging around town that Prince Fabunmi will remove me from the seat”.
But Prince Fabunmi and another top member of his faction, Prince Adediji Adeoye, described the accusation that they were planning to remove the monarch as a blatant lie, clarifying that such was not on the card.
They added that Oba Orisagbemi has no role to play in the selection and appointment of Elerebi , saying it is the exclusive right of the family to appoint someone and take him to the monarch for blessing.
“We didn’t plan to remove him, he only thought so. But now that you have given us the opportunity to go back home and make peace, we are ready to toe the line of peace. We appreciate the government for the intervention”, they said.
