How Ekiti community foiled Fayose’s plan to uproot ‘sacred tree’

On Monday, June 5, the plan by Governor Ayodele Peter Fayose of Ekiti State to uproot an ancient tree and demolish a shrine to pave way for the dualisation of the Ado-Akure road in Ikere Ekiti, was thwarted by angry community members. Ikere Ekiti is next in size and population to Ado Ekiti, the state capital; hence any politician eyeing the governorship seat must take the ancient town seriously. Fayose was not an exception.

The dualisation of the road, which had since commenced in fulfillment of Fayose’s campaign promises, with the completion of its first phase, was, however, resisted by the people when the work got to the ancient tree located in the heart of the town.

The governor had reportedly led bulldozers and a team of officials from the state’s Ministry of Works to the site to uproot the tree and remove the ancient artifacts, but the monarch of the town, Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Ganiyu Obasoyin, who is still battling for recognition by the state government, equally led some angry members of the community to frustrate his moves. They claimed that the tree was the soul of the town and harboured the spirits of their forebears; hence uprooting it would translate to a death warrant for the Olukere.

The enraged monarch, who is the custodian of the traditional materials at the shrine, known as Ereja, where the ancient tree is also located, reportedly removed his regalia and openly dared Fayose to uproot the tree and face his wrath. “If indeed you want to show that you have the power, uproot the tree and let me show you what will happen,’’ the traditional ruler had said.

The youth, while expressing their anger, obstructed the free flow of traffic and set bonfires at the Odo-Oja area of the town. Residents of the community had also placed sacrifices made with goats and pigeons, and other fetish objects at the site. Palm fronds were also tied around the shrine to ward off any intruder.

Addressing reporters at his palace the following day, Obasoyin said, “Yesterday (Monday), the governor led the police to Ikere to demolish the shrine. But it is when a king dies that the branches of the tree are cut off. So I went to tell the governor that he should not pass a death sentence on me.

“I want to say that Fayose wants to kill me by ordering that the tree, which represents my life, be uprooted. The people resisted him because I am the owner of Ikere and they don’t want their king to be killed.

“The Ereja is where Ikere people meet once every year. This is the tradition here. In every community, we have traditional and cultural heritages. Nobody can kill our cultural heritage.

“Government should see reason with the people of Ikere and respect their cultural heritage. If there is no town you cannot be a governor over people. They have that type of tree in Afao-Ikere and it was preserved for them. It was not cut for road project. The expatriate contractor said the sacred tree at Ereja does not hinder the construction work.’’

Indigenes of the community who spoke with our correspondent said the historical site was the source of Ikere, the place where the town was established; hence removing the tree would be a bad omen. The annual Olosunta festival is also celebrated at the site.

The historical and mystical tree known as Ege, belongs to the Olukere. Ege is a fountain with mystical powers to control flooding, while the Olukere worships the Olosunta deity every year.

Quoting from the 1933 Intelligence Report, the Olukere said his throne was the first in Ikere and should be accorded due respect and recognition by the state government. He recalled that 16 most senior monarchs in the state Council of Obas visited his palace in February on a fact-finding visit to historical monuments and artifacts, which confirmed his kingship.

But the Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, said the road project must continue because for every developmental effort, people must make sacrifices.

“Houses have been demolished, now it is the shrine. It is only proper that we relocate the shrine to a proper place.  With the necessary appeasement, the shrine could be relocated. All the gods in Yoruba land are for protection and not death. We want to assure the Olukere that nothing bad will happen to him,’’ Ogunsuyi said.

There was a massive crowd around the shrine when our correspondent visited the place on June 13.

Obasoyin said the community had agreed with the governor to move all the five deities to the Ereja and preserve the historical site, and wondered what led to the latest decision to uproot the tree and demolish the shrine. He alleged that the Ikere Development Forum (IDF), a powerful elite body in the town, who are the main supporters of Ogoga in the supremacy battle with the Olukere, advised Governor Fayose to demolish the shrine and uproot the ancient tree so that he would not be recognised.

“I will resist Fayose’s attempt to demolish the shrine and uproot the tree because that will bring calamity to the community. If he likes, let him bring 1,000 soldiers and 1,000 policemen, we will resist him,’’ the monarch vowed.

Fayose alleged that the Olukere was paid N1million for the relocation of the shrines, saying vouchers were available as a proof that the monarch collected the money. During his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor,’’ on the state-owned television, the governor further said that houses were attacked in the wake of the riot that engulfed the community while some people were attacked with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

“We will be patient to find a solution to the problem. I want to appeal to the Olukere to be very careful because some people were attacked with machetes in their homes. I have made it abundantly clear that for development to take place, some of these traditional artifacts will give way.

“When we started, we met the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Jimi Adu Alagbado, who said there were shrines along the project site. Later, the Olukere came into the scene and said the affected area was his domain and that the issue of relocating the shrines did not concern Ogoga. I told him that we might not be able to bend the road. Prominent Ikere indigenes such as a former governor of the old Ondo State, Chief Bamidele Olumilua, were at the meeting.

“To help in performing the necessary rituals to relocate the shrine and the deities, the Olukere was given N1million on January 11, 2017. He collected the money at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti. The vouchers he signed are still available.’’ the governor had said.

But the Olukere denied the alleged receipt of N1 million, saying that two of his chiefs, the Eselemo of Odo-Oja, Chief Adeyemi  Fajilade and that of Saya, Chief Foluso Olowofela, collected the money from the Commissioner for Works, Mrs Funmilayo Ogun. He added that the money was effectively deployed for the relocation of four deities, with the exception of the ancient tree.

“Ikere people didn’t want Ejibaosi relocated, but I had to pacify them because we love development. I want to believe that it was the Ogoga that wanted to mislead the governor because he knew he had no role to play in the tradition of Ikere town, so he wanted these traditions obliterated.

“The actual amount released was N850, 000. I even added a sum of N350,000 from my own pocket to complete the ritual. I am presently constructing an N18 million worth of road in the town. I also have investments worth over N200 million in this town, so I can’t stand on the way of government to effect development,’’ he said.

But the Ogoga, who had been silent since the latest crisis broke out, joined the fray by condemning what he called “the show of shame by the Olukere and his thugs.’’ He said their action did not represent what the town stood for, adding, “ The self-styled Aworo Olosunta, who describes himself as Olukere, his chiefs and the entire community, should apologise to Fayose for their disgraceful behaviour and show of shame.’’

He said, “We have refrained from joining issues with Ganiyu Obasoyin on the pages of newspapers or over the radio. He and his thugs should be dealt with by the law enforcement agents.’’

However, in a bid to avoid controversy, it appears the state government has bowed to the wish of the people to spare the sacred tree as the contractor has diverted the road. But the battle between the Olukere, Ogoga and the state government continues to rage.

*This story first appeared in Daily Trust on June 2, 2017.