Regicide is abomination, affront, blemish on tradition’s sanctity – Ekiti elders

By John Odunjo

The Ekiti Council of Elders has expressed deep shock over the recent attack on traditional rulers and killing of two monarchs in Ekiti State.

The Council also condemned the kidnap of innocent school children and their minders at Emure Ekiti.

The Council’s President, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi​​​​​; and General Secretary, Elder Niyi Ajibulu, in reaction to the killing on Monday by gunmen of two Ekiti traditional rulers by gunmen and kidnap of school children in the state, said, “We thought we were hospitable hosts, but we are tragically now being held hostage”.

Oluwasanmi and Ajibulu, in a statement in Ado Ekiti titled “Regicide and kidnapping and Ekiti”, said, “We wish to remind government at all levels that these free ranging marauders are daring indigenes everywhere to resort to self-help as best they can by their ongoing projection of these governments as incapable of ensuring the security of lives and property. Needless to say that this is an unedifying indictment.

“Two of the kings, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola, the Onimojo of Imojo and Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, the Elesun of Esun were fatally shot while the third king, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, the Alara of Ara in Ikole Local Government miraculously escaped despite the rain of bullets by the suspected Fulani criminals.

“This act of regicide is an abomination by any account. It is an affront and a blemish on the sanctity of our traditions – “emimo gbaa ni!!!

“The Council is miffed and saddened that these rampaging criminals have entrenched themselves in our forests and become emboldened to further perpetrate havoc on the peace and tranquility of our State.

“The Council wishes to remind governments at all levels that a primary justification of governments’ raison d’etre is the provision of security wellbeing for all citizens. It is utterly abominable that the lives of monarchs who symbolize everything sacred in their communities can be snuffed out by free ranging marauders.

“Nonetheless, the elders have the responsibility to urge restraint within the traumatized communities in the expectation that government will apprehend and bring the criminals to justice as well as ensuring quick safety going forward.

The elders, also in a letter to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, sympathized with him on the situations, saying, “This council will continue to assist your government in sensitizing Ekiti people on their roles collectively and as individuals”.

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