Ekiti community protests monarch ‘imposition’

Some contestants to the throne have also threatened to drag the state government to court for alleged manipulation in the process leading to the selection of the new monarch.
Eight of the contestants to the throne, while addressing journalists at the weekend in Ado Ekiti, alleged that government unilaterally picked the Oba-elect without due process and disregard for the state Chieftaincy Law and Morgan Reports.
Describing the installation of Oba Orisagbemi, a first class monarch in the state as flagrant abuse of power, the contestants threatened to file a new suit at the High Court, Ikole Ekiti Division to unseat the newly installed monarch.
Daily Trust gathered that the contestants have already filed a Notice of Appeal at the Appellate  Court in Ado Ekiti against the judgment of the state High Court, Ikole Division delivered by Justice Abiodun Adesodun, which dismissed the suit filed by the community to challenge the selection of Oba Orisagbemi.
In the notice filed on March 5, 2014, the appellants prayed the court to invalidate the selection and subsequent enthronement of Oba Orisagbemi on the strength that the state government contravened the law by illegally substituting two  warrant chiefs that were presented to them by some  families.
Spokesman of the contestants, Prince  Oreoluwa Fabumi, said the presentation of certificate of recognition to Oba Orisagbemi, a few hours after the judgement gave room for suspicion  that the government took sides in the matter.
Also speaking, 90-year-old head of Attah ruling house, Pa Francis Omolade, said the new monarch is not recognized by the people of the town.
But a Special Adviser to the Governor, Chief Aderemi Ajayi, who absolved the government of complicity, said the installation of the monarch was based on the judgement of the High Court, which dismissed the case earlier filed  by the nine contestants against the selection
Chief Ajayi stated that it will be wrong for the contestants to shift the blame on the government, “when they failed to prove their case that the substitution of the warrant chiefs and the selection of Oba Mimuni Orisagbemi  were illegally done.”
The seat became vacant following the demise of Oba Joseph Orisagbemi, who died in an auto crash along the Kabba-Lokoja highway in 2009.