Toba Suleiman 

Perhaps the government’s gesture was aimed at making life a little less brutish for the traditional rulers of the various communities in the state.  But the outcome of the generous donations to the monarchs in Ekiti State has led to a rising wave of disquiet in some communities.

The subjects are somewhat angry that their monarchs, and not them, have been picked to benefit directly from the “democracy dividends” which the government in Ado Ekiti is showering on the communities.

The 123 Ford cars and SUVs doled out recently by Governor Kayode Fayemi to some traditional rulers in Ekiti have been causing ripples in some communities as all the quarters' chiefs, youths and other community leaders in Efon Alaaye area of Ekiti are now calling for the removal of the town's monarch, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare, over what they described as his undemocratic style of leadership.

The crisis assumed a new twist at the weekend when all the six quarters' chiefs in Efon Alaaye, the headquarters of Efon Local Government Area, especially  Obanla John Fakorede, Obaloja Pariola, Oisajigan Ejigan, Peteeko Ojo, Alaayo Folayan and Ojubu Olowookere decided to shun the palace after removing their beads in protest.

They vowed that they would not have anything to do with the palace, following their exclusion from the list of traditional rulers to get vehicles from the state government.
So it was not quite a charge of being undemocratic, but was an accusation, as they say in the local verbiage, “chopping alone”. They alleged that in some local governments, no fewer than 13 traditional rulers got a car each as part of the government largesse.

The protesters, especially the transport commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada riders had, for three days, refused to convey any passenger within the town, while the chiefs shunned the palace.

One of the quarter's chiefs, who spoke to newsmen but did not want to be named, disclosed that Oba Aladejare had been suppressing moves by the lesser communities in the area to gain autonomy.

“We observed to our chagrin that the state government has just given autonomy to at least six different communities in the state, and we observe that our monarch is not supporting such a move in this local government. We realised that our traditional ruler has been oppressing various moves and agitation for the upgrade of our traditional rulers,” he said.

However, in his reaction to the development, a prominent citizen of the community and the President-General of the Efon Development Association, Chief Patrick Ojo, said all the leaders of the community had intervened and resolved to bring peace and harmony back to the community. Ojo further said the agitation by the chiefs and the youth would soon be addressed.

As at press time, the monarchs and the aggrieved chiefs were attending a crucial meeting with the Special Adviser on Chieftancy Affairs, Chief Aderemi Ajayi, to resolve the logjam.

Observers have however wondered why the state government had to provide vehicles for traditional rulers. They argued that the gesture might not be unconnected with the gubernatorial election in the state next year.

The traditional rulers are believed to have a significant influence on their subjects. The interpretation of the government’s gesture, therefore, is that the gifts sre aimed at securing the support and understanding of the monarchs and their subjects ahead of the election.

As one of the commentators asked, “Governor Fayemi has been in office for almost four years now. Why is he suddenly being this generous to the traditional rulers a few months to the gubernatorial election in which he is billed to participate?” 


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fayemi-s-car-gifts-to-monarchs-unsettles-ekiti-communities/159216/