There was tension in Itapa-Ekiti in Oye Local Council of Ekiti State, yesterday, over the disagreement between the monarch, Owatapa, Oba David Makanjuola Ajaja, and the traditional chiefs, who are also the kingmakers, making them to abandon the palace.
The chiefs accused the traditional ruler of assaulting one of them, the Elemo of Itapa-Ekiti, Samuel Osasona, during a meeting over issues relating to the installation of a new chief priest(Olori Awo) for the community.
Osasona, who spoke with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, at the weekend, with 14 other chiefs, alleged that he was assaulted by the traditional ruler for objecting to his plan of installing a new chief priest without recourse to the laid down tradition of the community.
He said that the traditional ruler lacked the sole authority to replace Ilesanmi Osanyigbemi with another person as the chief priest without approval and consideration by the council of chiefs.
Osasona revealed that the incident of assault on him, which happened on March 18,2024, had made the chiefs, except one of them, boycott activities at the palace till further notice.
He said: “I was slapped by the Kabiyesi during our meeting on March 18 when the issues of a new chief priest were being discussed. Our traditional ruler was saying he would install a new person as chief priest even though we have someone in the position.”which was recognised by the community.
“But due to the allegations that the person was not loyal or doing his biddings, he wants to replace him and I objected at the meeting, which made him to assault me in front of other chiefs.”
Also speaking, Abiodun Onipede noted that the recent actions of the traditional ruler had made them to petition the state deputy governor, MonisadeAfuye and other relevant authorities to prevail on Oba Ajaja to rule with dignity in the interest of peace in the community.
Meanwhile, efforts to get the reactions of the monarch were not successful as his telephone numbers were not connecting. He was said have travelled out of the country after the incident.
However, speaking on behalf of the traditional ruler, the Olominio of Itapa-Ekiti, Folorunsho Ogunleye, denied knowledge of alleged assault on the chief by the Owatapa of Itapa-Ekiti.
He disagreed with his colleagues for boycotting the palace in protest against the monarch, urging them to retrace their steps in the interest of peace in the community. Ogunleye said that the traditional ruler is out of the country at the moment, expressing optimism that upon his return, all contentious issues would be resolved.
