The Ekiti State Government has instructed Oba Adebisi Ogunjobi, the Olorin of Orin-Odo in Ikole Local Government Area, to promptly begin paying monthly stipends to some aggrieved Chiefs in his community, in an effort to restore peace.
The directive was issued by Ekiti Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, during a mediation session on Tuesday aimed at resolving a dispute between the monarch and several Chiefs over their exclusion from the government’s payroll.
The dispute began following complaints from the Chiefs, who claimed they had not received their monthly stipends since February 28, 2018. The aggrieved Chiefs had submitted several petitions regarding this issue.
In her address, Mrs. Afuye, through her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, ordered that the stipends for the Chiefs be paid from January 2025 onward, and that part of the accumulated arrears be settled to address the concerns of the Chiefs. She emphasized that the stipends, which are intended for the Chiefs, cannot be redirected for developmental purposes without their consent, warning that such actions would be a violation of financial regulations.
While resolving the dispute, Mrs. Afuye also criticized the Chiefs for their lack of cooperation with the monarch, noting that their absence from traditional meetings was hindering progress in the town. She urged them to collaborate with Oba Ogunjobi for the betterment of the community.
“I appeal to Kabiyesi to start paying their stipends from this month and part of the outstanding ones should be paid accordingly using internal mechanism. But for you to be paid, go and cooperate with the traditional ruler for the purpose of development and peaceful coexistence.
“I know that not all the outstanding stipends will be paid, but Kabiyesi should look for ways to pay them part of the money to make the chiefs happy.
“Let me say this clearly, spending the chiefs’ stipends on developmental projects without their consent was a misappropriation or diversion of funds. This is not acceptable. You ought to have kept the money in the council’s account until they are ready for payment”.
The Deputy Governor further clarified that using the Chiefs’ stipends for development projects without their approval was unacceptable, and advised the monarch to ensure proper handling of funds.
On the issue of Oba Ogunjobi’s installation, Mrs. Afuye stated that his appointment was legally valid, and called on the aggrieved Chiefs to begin working with him. The Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Ojo Atibioke, also affirmed that the installation had government approval and encouraged a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflicts. He urged Oba Ogunjobi to initiate reconciliation efforts to bring unity and development to the town.
Suberu Suleiman, Secretary of the Traditional Council in Ikole Local Government, clarified that the funds in question had been deposited into the council’s accounts and denied any responsibility for the Chiefs’ exclusion from the payroll. He affirmed that the council had met its obligations regarding the payment of stipends.
Chief Samuel Awoseemo, the Olomodorin of Orin-Odo and representative of the petitioning Chiefs, expressed that eight members of the Olorin-in-Council had been left out of the stipend payments, with one now deceased. He also cited divisions over Oba Ogunjobi’s installation as a key factor behind their refusal to attend palace meetings.
In response, Oba Ogunjobi committed to reconciling with the aggrieved Chiefs and adhering to the government’s directive regarding their stipends. He emphasized that the Chiefs’ cooperation and respect for his leadership were essential for the resolution of the matter.