Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers led by its chairman, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, on Monday intervened in the impeachment crisis rocking the state House of Assembly with a view to finding peaceful resolution.
The Assembly has been embroiled in a crisis over the impeachment of Gboyega Aribisogan by some lawmakers on November 21 and the consequent election of Olubunmi Adelugba as speaker.
Apart from impeachment, the Adelugba-led Assembly suspended Aribisogan and seven members loyal to him.
The traditional council, at a meeting with the two sides in the Assembly crisis – Adelugba and Aribisogan in attendance and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ado Ekiti, sought amicable settlement of the crisis.
Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, recalled how the state was created and appealed to the lawmakers to give peace a chance.
The traditional rulers urged Aribisogan to withdraw the suit he filed to contest his impeachment, while asking the Adelugba-led faction to re-absorb the suspended lawmakers.
“The position of the traditional rulers was based on the fact that since APC had earlier preferred Adelugba, who now had about 18 of the 25 members on her side, Aribisogan should give peace a chance by withdrawing his case.”
In his response, Aribisogan said he had heard what the Obas said but pointed out that he has decided to go to court and clear his name and not to come back to the House saying “once somebody is impeached, he cannot be elected until after 10 years.”
Aribisogan said the court case was filed to enforce his fundamental human rights adding that he would go back to his lawyers and feed them back with the resolution of the Ekiti Obas.
Other Kabiyesis like Ajero, Olojudo and Elemure said it was wrong to disobey the directive of the party and expect they would go scot free.
Other monarchs at the meeting included Ogoga Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu; Oloye of Oye, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju; Alara of Aramoko, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi; Owa Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adebayo Adewole; Olojudo of Ido, Oba Ilori Faboro; Olomuo of Omuo, Oba Noah Omonigbehin and Alaaye of Efon, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.