…five-Year Palace boycott ends
The Government of Ekiti State has resolved a lingering rift between the Elerio of Erio-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area, Oba Johnson Bamigbade, and six high chiefs who had boycotted the palace for five years.
The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, said the development marked a turning point in quest for peace, tranquillity and development of the town and a new lease of life between the Oba and his chiefs.
Otunba Egbeyemi who could not hide his joy after the hitherto aggrieved chiefs reported that they had heeded the government directive to make peace with their monarch and return to the palace they had shunned for five years. The conflict was resolved after three rounds of peace meeting where the feuding parties agreed to sheathe their swords.
Describing Erio-Ekiti as very renowned for religious tourism where people from far and near flock to its famous prayer mountain, Egbeyemi said peace was needed for the town to maintain the enviable status.
Led by the Aro of Erio Ekiti, Chief Joseph Fayese, the senior chiefs said the intervention of the state government was timely as it has prevented the town from descending into chaos.
The six senior members of the community’s traditional cabinet had boycotted the palace since 2015 shortly after Oba Bamigbade ascended the throne accusing him of highhandedness, dictatorial tendencies and withholding of their monthly stipends.
Defending himself against the allegations, Oba Bamigbade accused the six chiefs of holding secret meetings in a bid to dethrone him, turning the natives of the town against him and spreading falsehood to malign him.
The monarch who said the arrears of the chiefs’ monthly stipends were intact produced the physical cash as evidence which earned him a commendation from the Deputy Governor for not diverting or mismanaging the money.
Oba Bamigbade maintained that he had always worked for peace and development of his kingdom but couldn’t understand the chiefs’ alleged gang-up.
Last modified: October 15, 2020
