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ENOUGH OF THE CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGAINST EWI ADO OVER THE CHIEFTAINCY TITLE GIVEN TO GOVERNOR FAYOSE



When an honorary chief is given a title in Ado tradition, it is in recognition of his past deeds or contributions that is being appreciated or recognised and not the future deed that he may commit. All ends there and nothing is expected for the award other than good conduct and continued support for Ewi and Ado people.

An honorary (ceremonial) chief in Ado-Ekiti is like a prize winner, award winner, someone given an award of honour or recognition for various reasons and or services rendered to Ado community. However no honoured or ceremonial chief of Ewi is a member of the Ewi in Council (Ewi Cabinet). He can only attend ceremonial functions of the Ewi and traditional festivals of Ado as an honorary chief.

It is only sancrosant for Ewi Ado to however remove from office, any Chief that doesn't live up to expectations or who breaks the oath of allegiance to Ewi after due process of inquiry and trial had been followed. It however seldomly occur. These applies to traditional Chiefs and hardly extended to honorary (ceremonial) chiefs.

By Ado-Ekiti tradition, members of Ewi in Council (Ewi Cabinet) is as follows:

1. The President of Council and Chairman - HRM the Ewi
2. The Eyesorun of Ado-Ekiti as the Ewi consort (a ceremonial member)
3. The Chairmen of the Quarter Heads of Ado-Ekiti namely:
A. Odogun of Ado-Ekiti and Chairman of Oke-Ewi Quarter Chiefs (He came with Ewi to found Ado)
B. The Odofin of Odo Ado and Chairman of Odo-Ado Quarter Chiefs (Head of Odofin quarters who came from Oba near Akure to resettle under the Ewi.)
C. The Alarerin of Oke Ola and Chairman of Ogbon-Meta Quarter Chiefs (A powerful prince from Oke-Ila in today's Osun State who resettled at Ado under Ewi after losing the contest to become the Oba of his town)
4. Other Ewi Cabinet Ministers and Quarter Chiefs mainly members of the Kingmakers (quarter by quarter and not by ranking) namely:
A. Ejigbo of Ado and Ewi Chamberlain (A wealthy prince from Imesi Lasigidi who resettled at Ado under Ewi after losing the contest to become Oba of his town)
B. Baisaya of Ado (A powerful Akoko warrior chief conscripted into Ado hegemony by Ewi)
C. Asa of Ado (A powerful Chief from Oge Akoko in today's Ondo State who resettled at Ado under Ewi)
D. Sasere of Ado (A powerful Chief from Omuo who resettled at Ado under Ewi)
E. Aro of Ado (head of Ularo settlement)
F. Odolofin of Ado (He was second in command to Elesun, original ruler of Ado that Ewi eliminated in 12-13th century to conquer Ilesun and renamed it Ado Ewi)
G. Edemo of Ado (Head of Edemo Quarter)
H. Odunro of Ado (Head of Oke Efon Quarter)
I. Olora of Ado (An aboriginal Ruler from Ife who worship Ereju and resettled close to Elesun before the arrival of Ewi. He was later conscripted into Ewi Kingdom in 17th century).
5. All Palace Chiefs and Settlement Heads appointed by the Ewi on recommendation of the Royal Dynasties to oversee Farm settlements and Ewi borders (Oloye Omo Owa)
7. All Traditional Compound Chiefs under Quarter Chiefs and Women Chiefs of each quarter and the head of the market women allowed to attend Palace meetings (Oloye Adugbo, Oloye Ebi and Oloye Obirin)
8. All Military Chiefs and Commanders of the Ewi of Ado allowed to attend Palace meetings (Oloye Elegbe)
9. All Police Chiefs of Ewi of Ado (Efa)

Going from the above, whatever is given as an honorary chieftaincy title or award should not be regarded as an issue that will continue to drag the Ewi or Ado people into the attendant politics so as not to see whoever is beating the drum as a belligerent or enemy of Ado and invariably the Ewi. In Ado tradition, we know how to deal with our enemies when we know them. But that is left as a story for another day.

The politics of chieftaincy in Ado is not based on partisan politics that we are now engrossed with today. If you dig deep into Ado history, many of our Military Chiefs were not gentlemen but very powerful rascals and belligerent like Aduloju, Ogunmonakan and lineage of Akogun Irona etc. Warriors who can face an Oba, sack a town, raid territories, enslave people and bring back bounty of wars. Brave people who may only respect Ewi and no other. The activities of these traditional warriors at war made Ado prose (Oriki) to include OMO OLE LAMU... Similarly our traditional chiefs are picked by the various lineages sometimes by rotation and at other times by the trend of town politics or personality. All these methods are devoid of partisan politics.

Ado can bestow Chieftaincy on any well deserved personality or person who brings greatness to the community by some of his actions irrespective of his origin or political character. What attracts Chieftaincy in traditional values deals often with the degree of wealth, bravery and courage as well as contribution to the community. It is less of personal conduct or political views. It is what we derive or benefit as a community and the contributions of an awardee to the society that matters in traditional parlance.

Let us therefore avoid policitizing issues or measuring traditional values by modern political principles and strategy. We shall continue to educate ourselves. But whoever wish to be at peace with Ado and with himself should heed warning now. Ewi stool cannot be desecrated.

God bless you all.

Jadesola Tai Babatola
National Public Relations Officer
Ado Progressive Union
Master of Ceremonies,
Udiroko Festival.

2nd September, 2017

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