The Ekiti State Government, has placed the Olokun of Imesi Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government Area of the State, Chief Gabriel Bodunde, on three months probation to reunite with Onimesi, Oba Olatunji Olatunde before having the suspension slammed on him by government lifted.
Within the three months under review, the government directed the embattled Chief to attend the traditional council meeting regularly, this it stressed would form a basis upon which the suspension will be reviewed and removed.
The chief was suspended over alleged disrespect, high-handedness and insubordination to the town’s monarch, which was subsequently ratified by government. .
At a truce parley held in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said putting the Chief on probation form part of the actions being taken by government to reunite the Chief with the monarch.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media , Victor Ogunje, added that the government plans to give the Chief a softlanding because he complied with the directive given on 14th September, 2023 to withdraw his case in court.
She said: “The government said it during our last meeting that it won’t interfere in the matter until Chief Bodunde’s case is withdrawn because taking action on an issue pending in court would be subjudice.
“We can now resolve the issue now that he had complied with the directive. We now place him on three months probation when he is expected to be attending the traditional council meeting regularly.
“After the three months, we will review his case and if the Onimesi- in- Council is pleased with his attendance, then the suspension will be lifted. He can now have the privilege of enjoying all the paraphernalia as a Chief.
“But if you refuse to abide by our directive after the period under review, then you remain suspended”.
Mrs Afuye, who warned the Chief against abstaining from the traditional Council meeting to avert further crisis, appealed to the monarch to accept the truce with open arms.
Applauding the government for being thorough in dealing with the matter, Oba Olatunde stated that he had always been interested in having the matter resolved because of the influence wielded by the estranged Chief in the town.
“I have always showed my desire for the resolution of this matter. I can’t run the entire town alone. I need the cooperation of an influential person like Chief Bodunde. I am ready to accept him back to the fold.
“But one point must be emphasized here, you can’t be a Chief in a town and refuses to attend the traditional council meeting. This is a wrong signal that I won’t tolerate”.
Pledging to abide by whatever options given by government to broker truce in the matter, Chief Bodunde, said the withdrawal of his case against the monarch signposted that he was ready for peaceful resolution of the matter.
He also promised to attend the Council meeting anytime he comes down from his base in Abuja to Imesi Ekiti as acommitment to actions being contrived to resolve the crisis .
“I didn’t only withdraw the case I filed against the monarch, other criminal cases filed on my behalf by the police against some persons in the town over arson attack on my farm and property, had also been withdrawn. All these showed that I am ready for peace”.