BY GBENGA ARIYIB
ADO EKITI—THERE was pandemonium  in Ado Ekiti yesterday over the installation of the
new Edemo of Idemo quarters in Odo Ado area of the state capital when the reigning Edemo, Chief Bamidele Aduloju, is still alive.

Chief Aduloju was removed last year by the Ewi of Ado Ekiti,Oba Rufus Adejugbe following a disagreement  over landed property.
The aggrieved youths and the elderly argued that there could not be another Edemo at this time.

They displayed placards of various inscriptions which read thus “ Ewi, stop tormenting our Chief, “Another Edemo is illegal, ”Ewi is causing trouble in Ado, ”Ewi stop dividing our family,” “Deputy Governor is supporting Ewi,” among others to express their grievances.

The protesters armed with dangerous weapons also made bonfires on Odo-Ado/Polytechnic Road and smashed the wind screens of some vehicles including two police vans.
Briefing newsmen on behalf of the protesters, Mr. Gbenga Akinbo accused the monarch of instigating the crisis with the installation of Mr. Dayo  Fajemilusi from the Faje Ruling House as the new Edemo when the substantive case instituted by the sacked Edemo was still in court, even though a case instituted by him on his suspension by the Ewi was struck out on Monday.

Akinbo, however,  said a notice of appeal had been served on the monarch, adding that the Oba disregarded the court’s papers and installed another Edemo.
He added that : “What the Ewi of Ado is doing is against the tradition of the people and we will not allow that to happen. Another Edemo is illegal when there is a surviving one.”

Also a member of Faje House where the new Edemo emerged, Mr. Paul Falade, said his ruling house was not in support of the action of the monarch, describing it as illegal.

Defending his action, Oba Adejugbe said there was no uproar anywhere in the town, saying he only filled a vacant stool after a court of competent jurisdiction had struck out the case instituted against him.

He also said that he followed the due process in line with the tradition of the people in appointing chiefs, adding: “He (the former Edemo) filed a suit and all the three grounds were struck out by the court on Monday. So, in order not to create any vacuum, I have to fill
the vacant stool in line with the tradition of the people.”

He accused the former Edemo of recruiting thugs from Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, to cause confusion in Ado.
The king said he received the notice of appeal filed by the sacked Edemo hours after a new one had been installed.

He urged the people of Edemo Quarters to remain calm and avoid anything capable of truncating peace in the area.
Our correspondent could not get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Victor Babayemi as he sent an SMS that he was in a meeting.

But a senior police officer, who confirmed the story said five people had been arrested in connection with the crisis and being detained at the Okesa Police station.
He also confirmed that the wind screens of two patrol vehicles of the police were shattered by the protesters. He, however, said normalcy had since returned to the area