The women of Ikere Ekiti on Monday, June 8, 2015 staged a mass protest against an alleged plan by the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and the traditional kingmakers to impose Prince Adejimi Adu as the Ogoga-elect, the traditional ruler of the town.
The large group of women thronged the Odo Oja Roundabout singing protest songs against the state government, the kingmakers and certain indigenes of the community backing Adu.
They carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Money should not determine the next Ogoga,” “Mr. Governor, don’t approve Jimi Adu as the next Ogoga,” “Don’t use voting to select new Ogoga,” “It is not in our tradition to choose Ogoga by voting,” and “Consult Ifa Oracle, no voting.”
The women expressed apprehension that a wrong choice could be made, they rejected the alleged directive of the government that the choice of a new Ogoga would be decided through a vote among the kingmakers, insisting that the Ifa Oracle must be consulted in line with the customs and traditions of the town.
One of the protesters, told The Punch, “We want them to commence the process afresh and they should consult the Ifa Oracle. We don’t want the Ogoga to be chosen through an election by the kingmakers who have been compromised.
“The Ikere women are angry against the kingmakers for collecting bribe and we have lost confidence in most of them. They should choose the next Ogoga through the Ifa Oracle.”
Another protester, said the women would not allow Adu to reign as Ogoga, and warned of dire consequences if he was imposed on the community.
Obasoro said, “We will not allow Jimi Adu to reign in Ikere, he can become a king in Lagos but he will not become king in Ikere because he is not a prince.
“If they impose him on us, there will be trouble and the town will not enjoy peace. We are warning them not to impose him on us because government will not be able to control what will happen thereafter.
Ekiti Deputy Governor, Kolapo Olusola, who is an indigene of the area, had a meeting with the Regent, Princess Ayooye Adegboye-Oyinlola, and other chiefs .
Afterwards Olusola denied the allegations that Governor Fayose planned to impose a candidate as the Ogoga, neither he nor the governor had an interest in who became the king.
Olusola said the matter was in the hands of the kingmakers as government could not impose any of the candidates but that the law permitted them to use voting to select the Ogoga-elect.
The deputy governor’s explanation that the law allows kingmakers to choose the Oba-elect by voting was met with outrage and derision by the crowd of women.
Olusola said “Out of all the candidates, it is one of them that will be picked and the government’s guidelines allow voting.
“If we want peace, let us be patient and we should not encourage violence. We should allow peace to reign and nobody should disrupt the peace of Ikere.
“I want you to remember that there is a government in place and no government will fold its arms and allow the people to take the law into their hands. I beg all of you, let us allow peace to reign.”
