BY Gbenga Ariyibi

Traditional rulers in Ekiti are not partisan but as custodians of the culture of the people would not shy away from commending or criticizing their subjects in the contest, the Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti and chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers has said.

Meanwhile the council, worried by the increasing tension in the state on account of the election, has summoned a meeting with the gubernatorial candidates of the major political parties. The meeting is scheduled to hold before the end of this week, the chairman of the council said.

On the allegation that some of the traditional rulers in the state are partisan, Oba Babalola who denied the claim said “As custodians of culture and tradition, there is nothing (wrong) in a traditional ruler commending or criticizing his subjects or government officials for whatever good or wrong deeds”.

* * The monarch, however, assured that members of the council will be fair to all politicians irrespective of their political persuasion.,
He urged the politicians to canvass for the votes of the people by presenting their manifestoes at the campaign rallies as he said politicians with violent tendencies would be rejected by the people., ,

* * He said, “Ekiti State Traditional Council, at its statutory meeting of 29th April, 2014, resolved to appeal to all stakeholders in the politics of the state to play by the rules as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They should eschew violence and politics of bitterness. In addition, Law Enforcement Agencies are advised to be above board, non-partisan and be fair to all concerned in the discharge of their onerous responsibilities”.