The crisis rocking theYoruba Council of Elders (YCE) took a new twist on Saturday as the embattled Secretary General of the Council Dr Kunle Olajide described his suspension by a group in the Council as “a joke taken too far”.
Dr Olajide in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan declared that the action taken by a group called Senior Elders’ Committee within the YCE, in suspending him over “phantom accusations,” was nothing but a flagrant disregard to the constitution of the socio- cultural body.
According to Dr Olajide those who carried out the “illegal suspension” were railroaded into such action by the acting National President of the body, Col. Sam Ade Agbede(Rtd).
“My purported suspension by a handpicked senior comedians in YCE was a huge joke taken too far. I have not received any letter from this innocuous body unknown to YCE. This reaction is to assure Yoruba race that this action was nothing but a joke and a nullity coming from these elderly comedians.” he said.
Dr Olajide pointed out that the apex body in YCE, the National Executive Committee (NEC) will meet on the matter and brief the public over the development, saying, “we won’t allow people seeking relevance to distract us, because the YCE is an honourable body.”
“Our National President, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN) died in February and the body decided to honour him by not electing another person and Col. Agbede was mandated to act pending the election of the NEC president who has power to suspend me and anybody in this noble organisation.Using his powers, Col. Agbede has made it impossible for NEC to meet and elect a new leader. He selected a few elders called Senior Elders Committee unknown to YCE constitution to take actions.”
Dr Olajide added, “I will remain resolute and I will stand on that pedestal that due process must be followed in electing or appointing new officers in YCE.”, saying, “this body will not resort to unorthodox means to elect or appoint its council members or suspend anybody in a brazen manner without recourse to the constitution.”
