News
16 Ekiti Monarchs Drag Governor Fayemi To Court
Sixteen traditional rulers, known as ‘Pelupelu Obas,’ have sued Governor Kayode Fayemi over his recent appointment of Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, as Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Council.
The Ekiti Monarchs described the action taken by the Governor picking someone outside the 16 Obas called ‘Alademerindinlogun’ to occupy the exalted seat as a flagrant violation of the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law.
It will be recalled that Fayemi had last week appointed Oba Adebanji Alabi as the Council Chairman to serve for a period of two years .
Joined in the suit are Governor Kayode Fayemi (first defendant), Attorney-General of Ekiti State, Wale Fapohunda (second defendant) and Oba Adebanji Alabi (third defendant).
An originating summon filed by Dr. B.A.M. Ajibade (SAN) on August 7, 2019, and deposed to by Ajero of Ajero, Oba Joseph Adewole, on behalf of other 15 Obas, sought an interlocutory injunction restraining Fayemi from swearing-in Alawe as the chairman of the council.
The Ekiti Monarchs sought the following declarations:
• “Whether the first defendant is empowered under Council of Traditional Rulers Law, Cap 15, Laws of Ekiti State 2012, to appoint the chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers on a bi-yearly rotational basis from among the only class of Obas constituted Alademerindinlogun/Pelupelu Obas of Ekiti State.
“A declaration that the third respondent cannot be appointed as chairman of the council in consonance with the Ekiti State Traditional Council Law.
“A declaration that the appointment of the third defendant by the first was a flagrant violation of the law, unlawful, null and void, unjustifiable, illegal and unsustainable.
“An order nullifying the appointment of the third defendant as the chairman of the council of traditional rulers.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the third defendant as chairman of the traditional council and other relevant orders as deem first by the court.
The monarchs insisted that by composition, the Council of Ekiti State Traditional Council has permanent and rotational members.
The aggrieved Obas, with the exception of Oore of Otun, Oba Adedapo Popoola, who travelled abroad, had in a letter to the Governor dated August 2, 2019 asked Fayemi to reverse the action.
The promotion of Alawe, Olosi, Olojudo (Ido Ile), Arajaka and Oluyin to that Pelupelu rank by the government was an erosion of the tradition.
They said they are opposed to the appointment and threatened that they won’t attend the inauguration of Alawe as council chairman and any meeting of the council where he presides.
Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has described the planned increase in electricity and telecom tariffs as unconscionable.
The statement comes after the telecoms regulator last week approved the increase in mobile tariffs.
The federal government also recently said that plans were ongoing to increase electricity tariffs “over the next few months.”
However, Sani, who said the government’s plan is unreasonable, insisted that it should be halted.
The ex-lawmaker also expressed his support for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the scheduled protest against the government’s proposal, calling it a welcome development.
“The planned increase in electricity tariffs in the midst of poor power supply and the proposal to increase telecom tariffs is unconscionable and should be halted. The scheduled labour union protest is a welcome development,” he posted on X.
The United States President, Donald Trump, has revealed his decision to cut off all future funding to South Africa, citing poor treatment of “certain classes of people.”
Trump made this known on Sunday in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
According to Trump, South Africa was seizing land and mistreating some citizens without concern for the violations of their rights.
“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.
“I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Trump wrote.
Reports suggest that the American leader may be defending White South Africans, some of whom have alleged that the South African policy is unfair to them.
There are indications that the federal government will on Monday meet with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to stop the planned Tuesday nationwide protest against the 50 percent telecommunications tariff hike.
A reliable source familiar with the matter, who preferred anonymity, disclosed this on Monday morning, noting that the meeting between the NLC leadership and the federal government is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday.
The source said the meeting was a “dialogue on matters of national interest as it affects Nigerian workers.”
According to the source, it will be an inter-ministerial meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), purposely to resolve issues raised by the NLC concerning the federal government’s approved upward adjustment to telecommunications tariffs, which the NLC, its allies, and others are vehemently opposing.
This comes as the NLC is already mobilizing workers for a mass protest tomorrow (February 4) against the 50 percent tariff hike approval.
On Thursday last week, in a letter to affiliate unions and state councils, NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja urged them to mobilize other Nigerians to send a serious message to the government.
The planned protest follows the 50 percent telecom tariff approval by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025.
The approval had sparked widespread rejection among telecom subscribers.
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