The Ekiti State Government has taken decisive action to address a prolonged crisis in Epe-Ekiti by placing the community's traditional ruler, Oba Williams Adesoye, the Elepe of Epe-Ekiti, on probation. This move follows intense agitations from residents and elites calling for his removal from the throne.
Government Intervention Seeks to Quell Tensions
The state's Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, announced the decision during a crucial stakeholders' meeting held on Friday, January 16, 2026. The meeting took place at the palace of the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole, and aimed to find a lasting solution to the dispute between the monarch and his subjects.
Afuye passionately appealed for calm, urging aggrieved youths to allow the traditional ruler an opportunity to reform. "What the government wants is peace and nothing but peace. You cannot afford to maintain a hard stand," she stated. The Deputy Governor emphasized that development is impossible amidst crisis, adding, "Let us give peace a chance."
Terms of the Probation and Community Reactions
Oba Joseph Adewole, who mediated the meeting, outlined the resolutions reached. He confirmed that Oba Adesoye is to be restrained from the palace pending a final settlement. Crucially, the Elepe will be placed on a government watch list and is required to sign a formal undertaking of good conduct.
"During this probation, the government, myself and the town will be watching him," Oba Adewole declared. He expressed hope that the monarch would change his ways, enabling his subjects to reconsider their stance. Adewole also strongly cautioned youths against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that the removal of a traditional ruler can only be legal through death, proven insubordination, or a court judgment.
Roots of the Crisis and Path Forward
The crisis reached a peak after Oba Adesoye was evicted from his palace, which fueled renewed and vigorous calls for his deposition. Community leaders have accused him of unruly conduct, high-handedness, and authoritarian behaviour.
Speaking for the community, Adebowale Alabi, the Chairman of the Epe Progressive Union, criticized the monarch's disrespectful actions. However, he commended the government's intervention, acknowledging that the probation and the signed conduct agreement are necessary steps to regulate the Elepe's temperament.
Oba Adewole noted that Oba Adesoye has acknowledged his mistakes and is ready to make amends, seeking forgiveness from his people. The internal mechanisms of the community will now work alongside government oversight to address the stalled progress in Epe-Ekiti, with all parties hoping the probationary period leads to genuine reconciliation and lasting peace.
