Following allegation that the Olukere of Ikere Ekiti , Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin collected the sum of one million from Governor Ayodele Fayose for the relocation of some deities on the dualised Ado-Akure highway, the monarch has described the allegation as a blackmail targeted at smearing his towering image in the town.
Olukere, who has been embroiled in supremacy battle with his rival and Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu , clarified that the money given by the state government for four deities to give way for the dualisation programme in the town was not given to him personally.
Tension rose in the town on Monday following attempt by Fayose to pull down a tree that symbolizes Olosunta and existence of the town along the dualisation project at Odo Oja , predicating his action on the fact that the town had collected compensation via Olukere.
Sequel to the insistence of the Oba and his resistance to the demolition of Olosunta tree, Fayose had while appearing on the monthly programme tagged ‘Meet Mr Governor’ disclosed that a sum of one million had been paid to the monarch.
But addressing journalists on the contentious issue, Oba Obasoyin revealed that two of his chiefs, the Eselemo of Odo Oja, Chief Adeyemi Fajilade and Saya, Chief Foluso Olowofela collected the money from the Commissioner of Works, Mrs Funmilayo Ogun, which he said was effectively deployed for the relocation of four deities with the exception of Olosunta tree.
He said the contractor handling the project had given assurances that the road could continue impeded without the tree being pulled down.
“Let me say categorically that I didn’t personally collect any cheque or cash from Governor Fayose, so this is a cheap blackmail. The agreement we had with the government was that, there were five deities that could obstruct the dualisation project and we agreed that four should be relocated.
“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 has no role toplay in the tradition of Ikere town, so he wanted these traditions obliterated.
“When the appeasement and relocation was to be done in January, we declared 12 hours curfew and the governor was aware of this and all the traditionalists from the three quarters performed the rituals and relocation.
“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 N18m worth road in the town while I have investments worth over N200m in this town. So I can’t stand on the way of government to effect development
“The people of Ikere Ekiti love Fayose and we are praying for his success and I want to believe that he is too intelligent to be misled by agents of destabilization in this town”, he said.
The governor was advised to continue to see himself as father figure and uphold the love Ikere people have for him.
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