Tension has gripped people of
Ikere-Ekiti, in Ekiti State, over Governor Ayo Fayose’s order that a sacred
tree located in a historical site in the community be uprooted to pave way for
a road dualization project.
An attempt on Monday by
government agents and the contractor handling the project to remove the tree
was thwarted by the youths and traditionalists.
The youths went on rampage, held
up traffic and lit bonfires at Odo-Oja area of the town. Fayose reportedly led
armed policemen and operatives of the state security outfit, “Operation Flush”
in the heat of the crisis.
The indigenes claim that the
historical site known locally as the “Ereja” was the source of Ikere and was
the place where the town was established and and removing the tree was a bad
omen. They claimed it is also the location where the annual Olosunta Festival
is celebrated.
The residents had placed
sacrifices made with a goat and pigeon and other fetish objects at the site
while palm fronds were also tied around the shrine.
Angry residents had since formed
a human shield round the shrine in a bid to frustrate any plan to demolish the
site and uproot the sacred tree.
Addressing reporters at his palace on Tuesday, the Olukere of Ikere, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, said, “cutting down the sacred tree and demolishing the Ereja was akin to passing a death sentence on him (Olukere).”
The Olukere was joined at his palace by the
Alare of Are-Ikere, Oba Oguntuase Atitebi and the Elejoka of Ikuomoba-Ikere, Chief
Benjamin Owolade both of whom claimed that he (Olukere) is the head of the
community.
The monarch said: “Yesterday (Monday), the governor led the Police to Ikere that the shrine be bulldozed; it is when a king dies that the branches of the tree are cut off and I went to meet the governor that he should not pass a death sentence on me.
“I want to say that Fayose wants to kill me; by ordering that the tree which represents my life be uprooted and the people resisted him.
My subjects said they don’t want a tenant that will be making life difficult for the owner of the land because I am the owner of Ikere.
“The Ereja is where Ikere people meet once in every year, if that tree is removed, it means they have killed the Olukere. The people came out yesterday (Monday) that they don’t want their king to be killed.
“This is the tradition here, the tree branches are cut if the Oba dies. In every community, we have traditional heritage and cultural heritage and nobody can kill our cultural heritage.
“The only way forward is that government should see reason with the people of Ikere and respect the people’s cultural heritage. If there
is no town, you cannot be governor over people.
“They have that type of tree in Afao-Ikere, it was preserved for them and was not cut for road project. The expatriate contractor said the sacred tree at Ereja does not hinder the construction work.”
The Olukere who quoted from the
1933 Intelligence Report said his throne was the first in Ikere and should be
accorded due honour, respect and recognition by the state government.
He added that the 16 most senior
monarchs in the State Council of Obas visited his palace in February on a
fact-finding visit to historical monuments and artefacts which confirmed his
kingship.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com