You risk jail term if you wear regalia of traditional ruler, Ekiti state government warns chiefs

The Ekiti State Government has read riot act to traditional chief or honorary chief who parades themselves in the regalia of a traditional ruler in the state, to desist or face arrest and prosecution

Penpushing reports that, the Deputy Governor, Bisi Egbeyemi, gave the warning on Saturday, at a peace meeting with the Olohan of Erinjiyan-Ekiti, Adegoroye Omoseebi, and some interest groups in the community in Ado-Ekiti.

The Deputy Governor declared that the government gave the order as a step to  preserve the sanctity of the traditional institution, emphasizing that the warning became necessary to curb unauthorised use of crowns and beaded walking sticks by palace chiefs in some communities in the state.

Penpushing further reports that, Egbeyemi explained that the government summoned the peace meeting following a petition from the traditional ruler that one of his chiefs, the Odo of Erijiyan, Boluwaji Adewumi, has been parading himself with the paraphernalia of a traditional ruler.

The Deputy Governor, who was provided with evidence against Adewunmi disclosed at the meeting that, the actions of the Chief as alleged include the use of a crown and beaded walking stick within and outside the state.

Penpushing also reports that, Egbeyemi said  the government  would have ordered the immediate arrest of the chief but had to give him a last warning and an opportunity to reconcile with the Olohan.

The number two citizen of the state pointed out that the action of  Adewumi  was a clear violation of the state’s Chiefs Law by using the paraphernalia of a traditional ruler which attracted a sentence of six months imprisonment upon conviction.

Penpushing reports that, he pointed out that there had been reported cases of unauthorised use of crowns and beaded walking sticks to the state government in the recent past, emphasizing that such acts were capable of causing chaos in the state.

The Deputy Governor disclosed that, government was working very hard to ensure that the state enjoyed peace before, during and after the forthcoming governorship election, stressing that the face-off between the Olohan and the Oba Odo should not be allowed to fester.

Penpushing further reports that, Egbeyemi stated that if the situation was not brought under control early enough, it could be hijacked by hoodlums to unleash terror and throw Erinjiyan-Ekiti into chaos.

The Deputy Governor advised all parties involved in the crisis to bury their differences in the interest of peace, and  urged the community to effect the arrest of Adewumi by informing  security agencies whenever and wherever  he is seen wearing a crown or using a beaded walking stick.

Penpushing also reports that, the Deputy Governor, emphasized that it is only authentic traditional rulers as approved by the state government  who have the right to use such paraphernalia of office

“No chief that is under an Oba in our state has the right to wear crown or use beaded sticks. It is only Obas that are entitled to wear crowns and use beaded sticks. The chiefs can use ordinary walking sticks and not the beaded traditional one’, he said.

“Beaded walking sticks are for Obas only, crowns are meant for Obas only. You don’t have two or more Obas in a town. No Chief should parade himself as an Oba, no matter how rich or influential he may be. He must respect the Oba under whom he is serving’.

“If all of us are using crowns and beaded sticks, there will be confusion in our towns and that amounts to disrespect of our Obas and our government will not tolerate that. If anybody shows contempt to Obas, such an individual is playing with trouble’, Egbeyemi added.

“I am by this order putting chiefs in our communities under notice to desist from usurping the authorities of Obas in Ekiti State. Any chief who uses the paraphernalia of Obas is playing with six months imprisonment.

“I want Adewumi to go back to the palace and beg your traditional ruler and henceforth cooperate with him for the development of your town. You are a chief under him and don’t do anything that can diminish the throne of the Olohan’,he said.

Penpushing reports that, it is recalled that, the traditional ruler of the town had earlier accused Chief Adewunmi of sponsoring confusion and violence in the town which necessitated petitions to the police and the state government.

The royal father alleged that Adewumi had constituted himself to a threat to residents of Erijiyan-Ekiti, noting that the palace had to report the incident to the government to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Penpushing further reports that, in his own reaction Adewumi equally accused the monarch of making attempts on his life, arguing that he only wears the crown once in a year during a worship of a river deity in the town.

The Chief, however, assured the Deputy Governor of his readiness to comply with the order and reconcile with the traditional ruler of the said town, and other chiefs in the community in the interest of peace.

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