The Ekiti state government has suspended a traditional ruler in Imesi Ekiti, Gbonyin local government area of the state, Chief Gabriel Bodunde, for alleged disrespect, high-handedness and insubordination to the town’s monarch, Oba Olatunji Olatunde.
The suspended chief was also accused of causing communal crisis in the town through unlawful and arbitrary arrest of subjects over trumped up and frivolous charges thereby igniting tension.
Consequently, he has been warned against parading himself as the Olokun of Imesi Ekiti, pending the lifting of his suspension.
The state’s deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, made the pronouncement, Thursday, while presiding over a petition forwarded to her office by Onimesi-in-Council.
At the trouble shooting parley convened at the behest of Mrs Afuye, Chief Bodunde refused to appear at the meeting or send delegation to represent him.
In the petition dated, 14th of July, 2023 and signed by Oba Olatunde, the monarch accused Chief Bodunde of disrespect and insubordination to the Onimesi-in-Council for not attending any statutory meeting and working at cross purposes to their directives.
Dishing out the directive at the parley on Thursday, the deputy governor warned other chiefs working in cahoots with the suspended chief to desist or suffer similar disciplinary action.
