The Ekiti State government has restated a ban on any high chief or individual adorning the beaded crown, saying only the recognised traditional rulers were empowered to use such paraphernalia.

Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye reiterated the ban on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti, while presiding over a lingering chieftaincy crisis between the head of Irorin Quarters, Ilawe-Ekiti, Sunday Atolaju and Alawe in Council.

Mr Afuye said it became worrisome when some individuals and high chiefs seeking autonomy resorted to the beaded crown even when the government had not granted their request.

She said anyone found parading himself as a king shall face stringent punitive actions.

According to her, the practice by which a chief parades himself as a king is a flagrant violation of Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law.

The deputy governor warned individuals and chiefs from wearing such crowns in the name of observing yearly or monthly cultural practices.

She said that the current administration held Ekiti tradition and institutions in high esteem and would not allow any act or actions that could breed cultural disunity, violence or rewrite the good Yoruba cultural heritage.

At the peace parley, the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Ajibade Alabi, was represented by six chiefs, while the Alawe in Council was led by the Elemo of Oke Emo, Gbenga Agbona.

Mr Agbona claimed it was alien to the people of Ilawe-Ekiti, culture and traditions for priests to wear crowns and other paraphernalia of office like a traditional ruler, all in the name of festivals.

The Alawe in Council alleged that such a practice was often demonstrated by the chief Ororin of Irorin Quarters, Ilawe-Ekiti, Sunday Atolaju, and could bring division in the ancient town.

The traditional ruler urged the government to stop him from parading himself as a king because Ilawe-Ekiti had one traditional ruler.

The Alawe in Council added that Mr Atolaju should be stopped because his actions could denigrate the stool of the paramount ruler in Ilawe-Ekiti.

Mr Atolaju and his supporters presented pictorial evidence and others to justify their claims that the Head of Irorin Quarters was entitled to wear a crown and other paraphernalia of office during their festival.

(NAN)