Ooni in Ekiti, meets 16 Pelupelu Obas
By Ojo Araoye
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja 11 has visited Ekiti State on Monday, today. Sources told Irohinoodua that the Ooni is in Ekiti to resolve the lingering feud over the controversial selection of the current Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Obas, Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi.
“Ooni is in Ekiti to launder peace and harmony. He is the father of all. He came into Ekiti on Monday. His mission is to ensure that peace and prosperity reigns in the state. He is performing his traditional role as the custodian of Yoruba laws and ethics”, a palace official who does not wish to be named told Irohinoodua this afternoon.
Sixteen Ekiti pelupelu Obas have been at daggers drawn with the new Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Obas, the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi who the Pelupelu Obas, regarded as first among equals said should not have been selected as the Chairman of the State Council of Obas.
But in his comment on the history of the Pelupelu, the Alawe had said “They called a few monarchs they could get in touch with; they successfully called 16 Obas in Ekiti. That was the beginning of what they call Pelupelu. Some Obas felt neglected that they were not invited. Agitations began at the time. The Deji of Akure, now in Ondo State and the Owalobo of Obo, now in Kwara were among the 16 Obas that attended the first meeting. The misperception that Pelupelu means 16 is not only erroneous; it is a distortion of history. Deji and Owalobo left in 1901, leaving 14 Obas. Attah of Ayede was admitted to Pelupelu in 1920, Elemure of Emure was admitted in 1929. In 1947, four Obas (Alawe, Arajaka, Olojudo of Ido Ile and Olosi) were also admitted, bringing the number to 19. Olomuo was admitted in 1973 and Oluyin in 2018, bringing the number to 22. I don’t know where some people came about the perception that Alawe is not a Pelupelu Oba or that Pelupelu refers to 16. That is erroneous, wrong and shows a lack of understanding of history. However, the Pelupelu concept was dissolved in 1958 by the colonialists.”
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi had written a letter to the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi drawing his attention on the need to ensure the festering dispute does not linger.
