Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti
The Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Alagbado, has apologised to Governor Ayodele Fayose over alleged attack on him by the Olukere of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin.
The Olukere and the governor recently had a face-off over the state government’s plot to cut a sacred tree serving as sacrificial spot for the town.
READ: Monarch, residents protest Fayose’s plan to cut ‘sacred’ tree
Government said that the tree was obstructing the ongoing road dualisation in the town and must be cut down.
The Olukere accused the Ogoga of misleading the governor, saying “cutting down the sacred tree and demolishing the Ereja was akin to passing a death sentence on him (Olukere).”
In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, Oba Alagbado said he was compelled to state the facts in the matter after refraining to join issues with him.
The statement said, “We state unequivocally that the family of Aladeselu the first settler and known founder of Ikere whose imprint can be found in Odo-Oja his place of abode is the custodian of the shrines erected and planted at Ereja and not any other person or Ganiyu Obasoyin Family.
“The Aladeselu family after due consultation with Ogoga in Council has concluded the relocation of the shrines in December 2016 despite the incident of December 27, 2016 when Ganiyu Obasoyin and his thugs tried to disrupt the exercise by members of the Aladeselu family a case which is still with the Nigeria Police Headquarter Ado Ekiti six month after.”
“As it is evident, if an individual attempted to attack the governor of a state, people can imagine what the ordinary men and women are going through in the town.
READ ALSO – Olukere denies collecting N1m from Fayose
“We are not helpless but we are patient and law abiding and we do not expect the security agents to allow the continuation of this scale of lawlessness in our community.
“The Ogoga of Ikere Kingdom and the Chiefs find it necessary to apologise to the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the government and the people of Ekiti State for this show of shame.”
