A sitting arrangement at a state government function in Ondo State has led to a community leader removing a traditional ruler’s crown and the bitten off one of his ears. The incident which occurred in the oil-rich Ilaje Area Council of Ondo State has sparked off protest in the community.
This is as irate youths, traditionalists and aged women marched through lgbokoda town, half naked, to protest the humiliation of the monarch, the Olu of lgbokoda, Oba Odidiomo Afolabi Oladimeji.
Sources from the community stated that the monarch’s ear was reportedly bitten off by the community leader, and his crown forcefully removed.
The angry protesters lamented the action of the community leader, describing it as a sacrilege. This is as they vowed to place curses on him.
Eyewitness account stated that the traditional ruler was beaten up by the community leader when he asked him to vacate the front row reserved for traditional rulers by the governor’s protocol.
According to him, this led to a confrontation between the monarch and the community leader who rained curses on the monarch and attacked him.
“The refusal of the community leader to leave the seat angered Oba Afolabi, whose insistence sparked off a physical fight between the duo.
He said, during the scuffle, the monarch reportedly sustained injuries.
“It took the intervention of other monarchs and community leaders to stop the fight. The monarch was immediately rushed to a hospital in the area.
“The incident which occurred before the flag-off of the road by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has thrown the community into pandemonium. As protest enveloped the coastal community over the incident.
But one of his aides, who spoke with newsmen in confidence, narrated the incident. He said The monarch only asked him to vacate the front row and not to block traditional rulers’ view. But the man was irked by the development and started insulting the monarch.
He explained that the monarch, as the Chief host, was polite enough towards the community leader. But that he refused to leave the seat just to embarrass the monarch.
“The man bounced on Oba Afolabi, removed his crown, and the beads. And while they were struggling, he bit the ear of the monarch. He was rushed to the hospital with blood all over his body.
He added that ‘the who’s who in the State’ have been calling Oba. They being begging and appealing to him to forgive the man. Politicians, traditional rulers and government officials have been bombarding Oba Afolabi with calls.
Meanwhile, the assaulted monarch could not be reached for comments.
source: Vanguard