THE Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Adebanji Alabi, on Tuesday said monarchs in the Southwest zone had yet to meet to deliberate on the issue of secession.
Alabi, who is the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, while commenting on the agitation for Yoruba nation, said the issue of secession was a serious one that required critical analysis and wide consultations.
The traditional ruler, who spoke in a chat in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, after delivering his valedictory speech during the council’s statutory meeting to mark the end of his tenure as chairman, also advocated special allowance or allocation to traditional rulers to handle security matters. His tenure will officially end on July 31.
The traditional ruler, who reeled out his achievements in the two-year tenure, which he said had impacted on the traditional rulers, the state and Federal Governments.
He said, “The issue of secession is a serious matter, it is not a matter for razzmatazz. It has to be deeply looked into. You have to critically analyse it. It is not something you can rush into without proper consultation.
“Traditional rulers in Yorubaland are critical stakeholders, we have not sat at any moment to discuss the issue of secession and until this is done and we analyse the whole situation and come to a conclusion, it is then you will be able to hear our disposition or our position on this issue of secession. So, let us wait till that time when we sit and discuss the matter”.
Oba Alabi who also spoke about the travails of the Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Igboho said, “The matter is in court, but I can assure you that based on the justice system in the Benin Republic which is unique and inquisitional, whereby the judge will inquire deep into the whole issue before making a pronouncement, I do not doubt in my mind that he (Igboho) will get justice. After the judgment, we will be able to make a pronouncement”.
