Ekiti Gov’t resolves Ayede Chieftaincy tussle, warns against internal strifes in communities

The Ekiti State Government has resolved the brewing tussle within Attah Esubiyi Royal Dynasty of Ayede Ekiti, in Oye Local Government Area over the installation of a new Family Head codenamed “Elerebi” in Yoruba parlance.

To resolve the matter based on submissions of the contending forces regarding longstanding and established tradition, Mrs Afuye, told the family to allow the oldest Prince in the family to assume the position to douse the raging tension.

The Deputy Governor spoke in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday while interfacing with stakeholders on the raging chieftaincy tussle within Attah Descendant of Ayede Ekiti.

The interface followed a petition written by Attah of Ayede, Oba Abdumumini Orisagbemi, alleging that a clique was causing rumpus within the dynasty and making subterranean efforts to install a new family head without deferring to him.

Mrs Afuye, represented by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon. Olaiya Atibioke, believed that the monarch ought to have been consulted before embarking on any installation being a member of Esubiyi Ruling House and most respected.

After a thorough debate at the peace parley, Mrs. Afuye agreed that the oldest man in the family, who is Prince Oreoluwa Fabunmi, should be installed as the Family Head, as has been practiced from time immemorial

Mrs. Afuye said: “Princes should always be shining examples in the community by recognizing the traditional Ruler in whatever decision they want to take as the prescribed authority and Integral part of the family.

“Go back home and resolve your differences under the guidance of Kabiyesi to resolve other factors that were causing crisis among them. Those in the diaspora should always respect the decisions of those at home and not impose their decision on them to prevent actions that could breed disaffection in Ayede Ekiti.

“We have to respect the tradition, and since the oldest man had always assumed the position, allow whoever you think is the fittest among you to be installed to restore love within your ranks.”

Speaking to the petition, Oba Orisagbemi, condemned the sponsors of the splinter group for attempting to install a new Elerebi without his knowledge.

The monarch commended the State Government for wading into the matter and resolving it amicably, saying all the guidance spelled out shall be followed for peace to be restored in the royal dynasty.

The royal father added that it was wrong and flew in the face of tradition for them to illegally install a new Family Head even when the immediate past occupant, Prince Michael Ajibola, was still lying in the morgue.

“There was no way they could install a family Head of the Attah Esubiyi dynasty in Ayede Ekiti without consulting the elders and my humble self. It is not an elitist thing, but a tradition. All I want is for them to do the right thing”, the monarch said.

Speaking for the defendants, Prince Oreoluwa Fabunmi countered the monarch for claiming that he has overriding power to install a family head, saying it is not within his purview going by long-standing tradition that has existed in the family.

Fabunmi, who spoke alongside Prince Adediji Adeoye, said allowing the current Attah to singlehandedly install a family Head would rubbish the long-standing customs and traditions of the royal family.

Fabunmi praised the government for being painstaking and taking action that assuaged the feelings of all the contending forces in the matter, expressing alignment with the position canvassed by the government that he should take up the position of the eldest prince.

“We are not trying to exclude Kabiyesi or downgrade his authority, but we have to preserve this lineage by upholding its customs and traditions. Installation of Elerebi is done by all the family members, not an exclusive preserve of the monarch.

“The monarch was also trying to appoint another family head from the same family, this we feared might make it look like belonging to a lineage within the Esubiyi Family. So, we are taking it to another family in the interest of justice, equity, and Fairplay”, he stated.