The 16 most prominent traditional rulers in Ekiti state, known as the Pelupelu Obas, may likely face disposition as Governor Kayode Fayemi has issued them queries for dereliction of official duties.
This development is coming barely two days after the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Lamido Sanusi II, was deposed by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. It is a development that has caused panic in the towns.
The governor accused the monarchs of deliberately absenting themselves from state functions and the monthly council meeting since Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi , became the chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers, few months ago.
The query dated March 11, 2020 signed by the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. A.O. Adeoye and addressed to the Obas individually, a copy of which was sighted by journalists in Ado Ekiti Thursday, said the Obas must respond to the queries within 72 hours.
The query reads: “It had come to the attention of Mr. Governor that Your Royal Majesty has not been attending the monthly statutory meeting of the State Council of Traditional Rulers and state official functions since August 2019.
“Your conspicuous absence at the council meetings and state official functions, without any excuse or justification is considered inimical to the proper administration of the chieftaincy institution you represent.
“Therefore Mr Governor has directed that Your Royal Majesty should forward your representation for this inaction through this office within 72 hours on the receipt of this letter”, the letter concluded.
The face between the government and the Obas came in to the open when the Obas contended that the governor violates Ekiti state chieftaincy law which stipulated that the chairman of the council should be appointed among the pelupelu/Alademerindinlogun Obas, the category they said Alawe didn’t belong.
The monarchs had since boycotted all state functions and the council meeting and had gone ahead to sue the state government over the action
