Tension in Ekiti community over alleged eviction of monarch from palace
Tension has escalated in Ijesa-Isu Ekiti, Ekiti State, following alleged forceful removal of the Regent, Princess Omobolaji Adeniyi, from the palace amid the lingering crisis over the selection of a
Tension has escalated in Ijesa-Isu Ekiti, Ekiti State, following alleged forceful removal of the Regent, Princess Omobolaji Adeniyi, from the palace amid the lingering crisis over the selection of a new monarch.
The development came shortly after Ekiti State Government announced the approval of a new monarch for the town, a decision already being challenged in court by aggrieved contestants.
The incident reportedly sparked outrage among residents of the community, who accused some powerful individuals in the town of overstepping their authority and showing disrespect to traditional institutions.
According to sources in the community, the incident occurred after the regent allegedly raised concerns over moves to destabilise the town amid the lingering dispute over the selection of a new Obanla.
Lamenting her ordeal, the regent alleged that she was assaulted, embarrassed and locked out of the palace by security operatives while attempting to move her belongings.
She described the incident as painful, saddening and undeserved, saying she never imagined her selfless service to the community would end in what she termed public humiliation.
Princess Adeniyi noted that throughout her period on the throne, she committed herself to the growth and development of Ijesa-Isu, making personal sacrifices to ensure stability in the town.
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She said she put several aspect of her personal life on hold and endured enormous pressure in order to safeguard the traditional institution and maintain order pending the emergence of a substantive monarch.
The regent lamented that rather than being appreciated for her efforts, she was allegedly treated in a manner she described as degrading and unbecoming of the respect accorded to her office.
Princess Adeniyi alleged that her ordeal was orchestrated by the Chairman of Kajola Local Council Development Area, Ojo Ajayi, adding that the crisis began after the state government made a pronouncement approving a new Obanla for the community.
She said upon hearing the announcement, she left the hospital in Ado-Ekiti, where she had been receiving treatment, and returned to Ijesa-Isu the following morning to pack her belongings from the palace.
“Even though I was not officially told to leave the palace, I did not want the notice to come as a surprise or lead to a rush. That was why I left the hospital to pack my things, even though I was not medically fit that day,” she added.
The regent noted that trouble started when she attempted to remove her belongings, including items belonging to her late father, which she brought to the palace upon her appointment.
She alleged that security operatives, including personnel of the Agro-Marshal and Amotekun Corps deployed in the palace, humiliated and assaulted her and beat her driver while the belongings were being moved.
Princess Adeniyi said it took the intervention of officials of the Department of State Services before she was allowed to retrieve her clothes and other belongings.
Reacting to the allegations, Ajayi denied any involvement in the regent’s ordeal, describing the claims as false and misleading.
He said he neither ordered her removal from the palace nor directed any security operative to harass or prevent her from moving her belongings.
