Ekiti kingmaker threatens king with legal action over plot to depose him

A kingmaker in Ikere Ekiti and Saya of Odo-Oja, Chief Foluso Olowolafe has threatened the Ogoga of Ikere,  Oba Adejimi Adu with court action over attempts to depose him. The kingmaker alleged that attempt to remove him was based on his alleged cordial relationship with the Olukere, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, a known arch rival  and […]

A kingmaker in Ikere Ekiti and Saya of Odo-Oja, Chief Foluso Olowolafe has threatened the Ogoga of Ikere,  Oba Adejimi Adu with court action over attempts to depose him.

The kingmaker alleged that attempt to remove him was based on his alleged cordial relationship with the Olukere, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, a known arch rival  and threat to the throne of Ogoga.

Olukere, who is being recognized by Ogoga as a mere chief priest in the town has been at loggerheads with the latter over who is the authentic traditional ruler, with Olukere claiming that he remains an Oba and the founder of the town.

Olowolafe told journalists on Wednesday at Ikere Ekiti that any plan to remove him as a chief was an attempt to desecrate the tradition of the town and breach the wish of the people, especially members of the  four ruling houses he represents.

He recalled that he got the title in 2010 during the reign of the late Oba Adegoke Adegboye after careful selection, saying Ogoga lacked the requisite constitutional or traditional power to either remove or derecognize him.

"I was  one of the kingmakers  who installed Ogoga. I acted as the Secretary during the installation process. No amount of threat  will force me out of this position. So, the plan by Oba Adejimi to remove me was a complete aberration,” he said.

"How can an Oba threaten to remove a kingmaker who made him just because of rumour?  I will be left with no option  than to go to court to exert my fundamental  human rights should he go ahead to carry out the threat.

"The tradition is very clear and the State Chieftaincy Statute is unambiguous   about how a kingmaker can be removed. I have not breached any of the set criteria to warrant anybody threatening me with deposition.

"This attempt to depose me from the position of my forebears  is not in  conformity with the wish of the people . I am particularly happy that  my people are behind me and on their strength I am relying on.”

Olowolafe, however, pledged to embrace any step taken by well-meaning indigenes to resolve the crisis, just as he appealed to the people to impress it on  the monarch  the need to shelve the evil plot against him.