The Ekiti State Government has ordered immediate stoppage of the monthly salary of a traditional title holder in Iworo Quarters, Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government Area of the State, Chief Sunday Faluyi, for allegedly spearheading a rebellion against the installation of a new Aro chieftaincy title in the community.
The Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, issued the punitive order during a troubleshooting parley, on Tuesday, while interfacing with the delegation from the community.
The directive was handed down, following government’s mediation on a protest letter, written by one Abel Oluwasogo of Ayauna family of Iworo Quarters, accusing Olumuo of Omuo Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin, of preventing the family from assuming its position among the royal dynasties that were entitled to occupy the coveted seat.
Speaking further on the petition, Olorunsogo averred that there was a court judgement in 1999 that ordered that only three families should have exclusive rights to the royal seat in succession order, contrary to four being paraded by the Olomuo-in-Council.
In her resolution, contained in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, Mrs Afuye resolved the case against the petitioner and directed Oba Omonigbehin to begin the process for the installation of a new Aro from Ayaro dynasty of Iworo Quarters .
The deputy governor advised Olomuo to stick to the rotation that had been in existence for long that favoured Ayaro dynasty for the title in the interest of posterity and peace.
Slamming the punishment on Chief Faluyi, Mrs Afuye said the punitive action was taken to serve as a deterrent to some chiefs, who were fanatically fond of dividing the throne against their monarchs .
“It sounds so bad that a chief that was supposed to be a peacemaker was the one spearheading rebellion over the installation of a new Aro by defying the oder of the Olomuo that Ayaro should be allowed to install the new Aro of Iworo Quarters.
“This habit was unbecoming of his status.
“Henceforth, the salary of Chief Sunday Faluyi should be stopped pending the time he will agree with Olomuo for full settlement of this case and the Council must comply with this directive,” the deputy governor said.
Rationalizing her position on where the new Aro chieftaincy title should emanate, the deputy governor added, “The four families that constitute Iworo Quarters, according to documents, sat in 1999 and resolved that the position of Aro should be rotated in the order of Ayaro, Ayauna, Ayagbolu and Ayaasun.
“Records also showed that the last occupant of the seat was from Ayaasun, so it has to return to Ayaro. Olomuo should go ahead and pick the next occupant of the royal seat from that family.”
Rejecting the claim that he allegedly favoured a particular dynasty in the royal duel, Oba Omonigbehin said he had been reigning in the community since 1991 and that the modality he met on ground was that the position should be rotated.
The monarch stated further that it was the family that sat and drew the succession order in 1999 and gave it to him for execution, and not that he was interested in any candidate.
Chieftaincy tussle: Ekiti Govt stops monthly salary of traditional chief
