… Tension in Ikere-Ekiti as royal fight escalates
- I’m the only monarch in Ikere kingdom – Ogoga•Any attempt to obliterate my throne is a call for war – Olukere
From Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti
IKERE-EKITI is one of the most prominent towns in Ekiti State. Besides being the second largest town in the state, it is also a historically significant town in Ekitiland, part of which extends to Kwara and Ondo States.
But right now, all is not well in the ancient community that hosts the Orole and Olosunta Rocks, among other natural monuments. Last week’s public affirmation by the state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, that the newly installed Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu (Agirilala 11), is the paramount ruler of the town, has reopened old wounds. The pronouncement is causing ripples and generating tension, as a bitter battle is seemingly looming between the town’s two monarchs.
Last week, youths and elderly men and women in the town invaded the streets of Ikere-Ekiti in protest. They barricaded the Akure-Ado-Ekiti Road, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. They were protesting the alleged dismantling of a billboard of the Olukere by the state governor, Mr. Fayose. It took the efforts of security men for the protesters to be persuaded to leave the road.
The supremacy battle between the Ogoga and Olukere has been on for decades, with most governors trying not to be seen as overtly supporting either of the two. But the present government under Mr. Fayose has openly pitched his tent with Ogoga, insisting the king is the only ruler in Ikere Kingdom.
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Dr. Olusola Kolapo Eleka, had, at the recent commissioning of the new multi-million naira Ogoga Palace, constructed by Oba Adu, declared that the Ogoga is the monarch recognised by the state government as the paramount ruler of Ikere Kingdom, adding that any other person remains Ogoga’s subject. Dr. Eleka, an indigene of the town, had declared: “Ikere has one monarch and the Ogoga is the head of the kingdom.” Then he told the Ogoga: “We recognise you as the only king in Ikere. We recognise you as the only paramount ruler in Ikere and there is no other king in Ikere. This government under the leadership of Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose will continue to recognise you as such.”The Ogoga, Oba Adu, while addressing Ikere indigenes on the occasion, also insisted he was the only monarch in Ikere. “The day, July 6, 2015, which ushered in my reign, will forever remain unforgettable but remarkable in the history of my life and that of Ikere community as a whole. Today, history is being made and repeated.“It was during the reign of my great, great grandfather, the great Oba Agirilala 1, that Ikere got an expansion, with many settlements coming for protection in Ikere. Some went back to their original settlements after the cessation of the inter-tribal wars that brought them here. Many more stayed behind as a result of the hospitality and good administration of Oba Agirilala 1.“Thus, today, we have the nine quarters (Owo Mesan) in Ikere from the original three (Uro, Odo-Oja and Oke’kere). Also, one of my progenitors in the early 20th century rebuilt this palace. And so, today, we are sanctifying the new building constructed solely through the grace of God by another Agirilala 11.”While alluding to the tension in the town, as some indigenes regard the Olukere as the paramount ruler, Oba Adu said:“I must say that this new palace as well as other positive programmes emanating from us is aimed at complementing government’s effort. Therefore, any unwarranted distractions and noise making from any quarter is anti-government and anti-people. When a dog coughs repeatedly around the lion’s cave, its owners should know it is time to put it in its cage.“Traditional stools are meant for honest people. I will not allow the dignity of Ikere kingdom to be besmirched in my time. Royalty is from God; it is not picked on the street as it has roots and lineage. We are justified by history and our history cannot be re-written and manipulated,” he said.
But in a swift reaction, the Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, vehemently condemned Eleka and Ogoga’s assertions, saying that the development signalled a sinister and clandestine intention by the state government to obliterate the history of the Olukere stool.The monarch, who said there were threats to his life, said that the Governor Ayodele Fayose-led government had threatened to deal with him over the lingering supremacy battle with his rival, the Ogoga, on who is actually the owner of Ikere.While addressing some journalists at his palace in Ikere-Ekiti on the age-long kingship tussle in the kingdom, the Olukere accused the state government of bias, warning that any attempt to either derecognise him or make him a subordinate to the Ogoga would be vigorously resisted.
The enraged monarch, who flaunted the Ikere Intelligence Report of 1933, among several other documents, including those written from the local government and Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs to substantiate the authenticity of his throne, expressed worry and disappointment that Fayose, who was expected to mediate in the crisis, was allegedly plotting against him.
He said the provocative statement attributed to the deputy governor, Eleka, had really created an atmosphere of tension in the town, adding that he had been spending quality time to plead with his people to calm down and allow the court to adjudicate in the matter.
Oba Obasoyin, who was crowned in 2014, alleged that the fact that the present government had vehemently failed to respond to three memos he had written to it, advocating that the staff of office be presented to him, further gave credence to his claim that the government was taking sides.He said further: “A couple of weeks ago, Governor Fayose called me to his office and warned me against giving the Ogoga any problem, and that he would fight me with all the paraphernalia of office if I should take any action against my rival.
“The Attorney General, Barrister Owoseeni Ajayi, Chief of Staff, Dipo Anisulowo, Commissioner for Works, Kayode Oso, Fayose’s Chief Security Officer and one of his sisters were present at the meeting.
“I want to say that the Ogoga, whom Governor Fayose was parading as his recognised king, came to this town in 1836 from Akure. This is on record. About six Olukeres had been installed before he came. Why should the landlord now become a tenant? The Ogoga was my errand boy and nobody can rewrite this in history.
“Governor Fayose must learn from the Ife-Modakeke communal crisis. They should not do anything that would promote war in this land. If the government of Ekiti has any problem with the federal government, it shouldn’t use Ikere as a testing ground.
“Though I assumed office in 2014, the last voucher showing payment of salary to the Olukere dated back to 1989 and it was on government’s website that there were two kings in Ikere Ekiti.”
A couple of days later, the Olukere called another press briefing in Ado-Ekiti and told reporters that Governor Fayose had taken the war to his doorsteps. He alleged that the governor led a team of security officials to supervise the destruction of a huge billboard displaying his (Olukere’s) portrait in the heart of the town. He begged President Muhammadu Buhari to save him from Fayose.
His words: “My life now is at stake. If someone could personally supervise the destruction of my billboard, what would he do if he sees me face-to-face?”But in his response, Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Idowu Adelusi said: “The allegations made by the Olukere against the governor makes no sense at all. That this administration gave recognition to the Ogoga, Fayose was simply following the law, particularly on the Ikere issue. None of the past administrations gave recognition to the Olukere to rule over Ikereland. Does the Olukere expect Governor Fayose to do otherwise and cause a crisis in the ancient town?
“The Olukere was only ventilating his anger when he alleged that the governor destroyed or sent people to destroy his posters. The allegation is unfounded. The Olukere does not have the instrument of office as Oba. It is an open secret that the Olukere is being sponsored by the APC.”
And in a recent broadcast during which Governor Fayose addressed the people of the state, he also stated: “On Ikere Ekiti, I did not author the Morgan Commission Report. It was that commission that established families that can be Oba.
“It is not my business who becomes king anywhere, but the laid down rules must be followed. No one can buy me to illegality. “In Ikere Ekiti, according to the Morgan Report, Ogoga is the only recognised Oba. I have given the staff of office to Ogoga and whoever that has any issue should approach the court.
“I am aware of the existence of Olukere in Ikere Ekiti, but I am not aware of any Olukere that was given the staff of office as an Oba.”
Chiefs loyal to either of the two contending Obas have also thrown their weight behind their choices. Some of the chiefs loyal to the Ogoga told the reporter that there was no other monarch in Ikere- Ekiti besides the Ogoga. Reacting to the Olukere’s claims, the chiefs, in a statement signed by the Sao of Ikere, Chief J.K.M Omotosho, said: “There is only one monarch in Ikere-Ekiti – Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, the Ogoga of Ikere, the paramount ruler and prescribed authority in Ikere kingdom.
“All chiefs in Ikere owe their allegiance to the Ogoga of Ikere without exception. Our loyalty to the Ogoga is total.” Reacting to the claim by the Olukere that he was already in the town before the arrival of the Ogoga in Ikere, and that as the aborigine, the government was wrong to have declared that there’s only one monarch in Ikere, the Ogoga chiefs asserted: “The Olukere lineage has no history or pedigree in Ikere monarchical heritage since the foundation of the world. No government or constituted authority has accorded the Olukere lineage such respect or recognition as pertains to a king in the history of Yoruba race. The Olukere as a priest from time past till now, has no single chief. He does not confer any title on anyone and no single Ikere chief responds to him. The state government’s pronouncement that Ogoga is the only monarch as far as issue of Obaship is concerned in Ikere is in tandem with the tradition of the town.”
The chiefs said the reaction of Oba Obasoyin to the pronouncement of the Ekiti State government through the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, who is an indigene of the town, was out of place. According to them, “the respect of past holders of that priesthood position enjoyed is derived from the spirituality that Ikere attaches to Olosunta and the approval of the Ogoga, the prescribing authority.”
The chiefs warned the Olukere on his utterances and actions. “Such action as arrogating to himself a non-existent obaship title without the approval of the state executive council is contrary to our law,” they claim.
They also charged the general public to ignore what they said was a call for war by the Olukere, saying the law enforcement agents and the government should do the needful in order “to sustain the peace we currently enjoy in Ikere.” But in their reactions, two other prominent Ikere chiefs, the Eselemo of Ikere, Chief Adeyemi Afolayan Fajilade and the Sapetu of Ikere, High Chief Michael Adu Shittu, went into history to defend the Olukere. The Eselemo, who is also the Atuwase 11, from Odo-Oja quarters, (also Olukere’s quarters) in Ikere-Ekiti told the reporter:
“The pronouncement was from the Deputy Governor, Olusola Kolapo Eleka. Dr. Eleka is an indigene of Ikere. He was biased. It is a fact that it is only Ogoga today that is being recognised by the government, but that is not to say that Ogoga is the only Oba in Ikere. So, Dr. Eleka was biased with that statement and he was partisan. He took sides because he belongs to the Iro axis where Ogoga comes from, and that is why he made such a statement.
“I am competent to tell the story of Ikereanywhere and at any level, and the true picture of Ikere is that we are a communal federation. This federation is founded by Odo-Oja town which is the central part of Ikere, Oke-Ikere town, which is towards the north of Ikere, towards Ado-Ekiti, and Iro quarters, towards Igbara-Odo, which is the west of Ikere. Traditionally, we are nine units from three main towns. That is what we call ‘Owo Mesan Ikere,’ the nine units of Ikere. Apart from the three main towns, we have some other satellite towns. Odo-Oja has Iluomoba, Oke-Ikere has Are and Afao communities, while Iro axis has Agbado and Oyopeju. So, we all came together to form a communal federation where Olukere is the father and paramount ruler of the communal federation.
“Olukere became the head of the federation because he is a direct son of Oduduwa. His name was Olojede Olurode from Ile-Ife, and he brought his crown from Ile-Ife. The rest of us, the Eselemo, were direct sons of the Oba of Benin. This has been the situation of things for over 1000 years now.
“The Ogoga came to Ikere and met the sixth reigning Olukere on the throne and he was asked by the Olukere to head the Iro axis because he was a prince, the younger brother to the Deji of Akure. That has been his dynasty. The Ogoga has no records in Ife nor does he have any records in Benin where they claim to have come from.
“Now, as a federation, we contributed two delegates from each quarter, whom we call Iwarafa mefa. Also, we contributed two Elegbe warriors from each of the three main towns. Even among the women, we also contributed two delegates from each of the three quarters to form the central government with Olukere. These representatives hold meetings with Olukere.
“This continued until around early 18th century when there was a meeting of paramount rulers in Otun. What happened was that during the colonial rule, there was a time the Colonial Governor called a meeting with the paramount rulers. By that time, the Olukere was too old and he sent the Ogoga Agirilala 1 to represent him before the White men. The governor then sent two of his colonial officers to come to the Olukere to confirm whether the Ogoga was the true representative of the Olukere, and the Olukere confirmed it. We might call it ignorance or whatever, but due to the old age of the then Olukere, he did that. Since then, the subsequent governors have been recognising the Ogoga.
“But annually, there is a day that the Ogoga takes permission from Olukere. That day is what we call Ijero. On such days, the Ogoga would kneel down before the Olukere and the Olukere would bless him and give him the authority to lead for the next one year.
“Unfortunately, the Ogoga has since then been trying to subdue the Olukere and the town. But you know the name of this town is Ikere, and this Oba’s title is Olukere. In Yorubaland, Olu means the owner, that is a king or queen. So, if somebody is bearing Olu of Ikere and another says he is Ogoga, which one is more corresponding, according to the history and tradition of the Yoruba race? And you can see that recently, the Olukere went to pay homage to his father, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. “If you get to Ile-Ife, the seat of Olukere is the third to that of the Ooni of Ife. So, what they are doing is trying to change history, and that is impossible. That today, the government of Ekiti State does not recognise Olukere as the paramount ruler of Ikere kingdom doesn’t erase the history of Ikere. The Olukere has been our father. “Recently, they said he was a priest, but that is a lie. They also claimed that it was Aladeselu who founded Ikere. That is also not true. The Eselemo gave Aladeselu and his 10 children land to live in Ikere. If they have been the owners, they would have been the ones giving us land. But myself and Olukere are the ones giving everyone land to settle. “The situation of things with all these distortions of history is that now, there is disarray in Ikere. The ruling class doesn’t want others to thrive. For about 25 years now, the Olukere is not being paid his dues. It is now only one community out of the three that is forcing itself on the entire people. What we are begging the government to do now is to give everybody recognition so that there would be peace in the land.”
Also, defending the Olukere, the Sapetu of Ikere kingdom, High Chief Shittu, affirmed: “I am the second-n-command to the Olukere, the number one traditional chief in the whole of Ikere-Ekiti. My reaction is that the issue of law is on one side, while customs and tradition is also on another. As far as the law in Ekiti State is concerned, we have Obas that are recognised by the government. There are also some Obas who are yet to be recognised by the government, like it happened in Ikole, Omuo-Ekiti and Igbemo-Ekiti of recent.
“From history, Ikere has been a meeting point of many settlers, just like Ibadan. At a point in history, Olukere himself must have met some people in Ikere-Ekiti, but he later became the Olu of Ikere Kingdom. And in Yoruba land, when you say Olu, that means he is the king.
“In the Intelligence Report put down by the white men on Ikere kingdom, they said about 1815, which was exactly 200 years last year, the Ogoga was appointed as an Ajele, meaning the envoy of the English District Officer. If the Ogoga was actually an Oba, he wouldn’t have been appointed as an Ajele in that year. At that time, when Olukere was number one, Sapetu was number two. At a time also, the Olukere delegated some administrative duties to Ogoga and that was why the White men began to recognise the Ogoga ever since then. So, what is happening here is akin to what has happened in Ikare- Akoko in Ondo State between the Olukare and Owa-Ale. The Owa-Ale was there before the Olukare.
“Right now, the issue is not even who is the number one. Now, the Ogoga is recognised by government as number one, but what the Olukere is asking is that he should be recognised by the government as the Olukere of Ikere kingdom.
“My advice for the government of Ekiti State is that it should recognise the Olukere as well. He is the one at the centre of the town. The number one person or paramount ruler of any town all over the world is always at the centre of the town. Olukere’s palace is located at the centre of Ikere, which is called Odo-Oja. I am from Oke-Ikere, the Ogoga is from Iro quarters, in the outskirts of Ikere. Ogoga is the only Oba in the whole of Yorubaland whose palace is in the outskirts of the town, not at the centre. So, what the government should do is to replicate what it has done in Ikole-Ekiti, Omuo-Ekiti and Igbemo-Ekiti and recognise the Olukere, as they have done to Ogoga. That will bring peace and unity to Ikere-Ekiti.”
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