By Lanre Adeola
Ekiti State Government has ordered the Olorin of Orin- Odo in Ikole Local Government, Oba Adebisi Ogunjobi, to immediately commence the payment of monthly stipends to some aggrieved Chiefs in the community.
The Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye gave the order while meditating on disagreement between some aggrieved Chiefs and Oba Ogunjobi over alleged exclusion from the government’s monthly payroll.
Chief Afuye also directed the monarch to pay parts of the outstanding arrears to the aggrieved Chiefs, starting from this month.
The Deputy Governor who explained that government stipends for the traditional chiefs could not be diverted for development purpose, without the consent of the beneficiaries, said such negate government’s financial statute.
She, however, faulted the traditional chiefs for refusing to cooperate with the monarch to move the town forward, saying that staying away from traditional meetings would have negative effects on the town.
While defending his office, the Secretary, Traditional Council Ikole Local Government, Alhaji Suberu Suleiman, revealed that all the monies under contention, were paid into the traditional council’s accounts and that the council was not responsible for the chiefs’ exclusion .
Earlier one of the Aggrieved Chiefs and Olomodorin of Orin- Odo, Chief Samuel Awoseemo, claimed that eight members of Olorin-in-Council were excluded from payment, with one of them now late.
In his response, the Olorin of Orin- Odo Ekiti, Oba Adebisi Ogunjobi promised to make peace with the aggrieved Chiefs and as well comply with government’s advice on the payment of the chiefs’ 0stipends.
Oba Ogunjobi, however, reiterated that the chiefs would be paid as directed if they turn a new leaf and respect his leadership.
The government intervention followed petitions written by some aggrieved Chiefs from Orin Odo Ekiti over alleged refusal of Oba Ogunjobi to pay their monthly stipends, since February 28, 2018.
