Government has warned the youths in Omuo-Oke, Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti against actions capable of triggering violence and denigrating the traditional stool of Oba Adebayo Otitoju.

The State Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, gave the warning on Friday, in Ado-Ekiti, while mediating in the chieftaincy tussle that had caused disaffection between Olomuo -Oke and some stakeholders at Isanlu Quarters of the town.

Afuye said the parley meeting was convened following a petition written by Oba Otitoju, raising concerns over how youths had been harrassing him and members of his council.

According to her, this followed Oba Otitoju’s insistence that the occupant of Saaba traditional title remained the head of Isanlu quarters, and not Chief Michael Akomoleyin, who holds the title of Ahinda .

She warned the youths who protested against Oba Otitoju’s resolution not to allow themselves to be goaded into taking actions that could desecrate Olomuo -Oke stool and infringe on the rights of other chiefs.

She urged the rampaging youths to think more of how to develop the town, rather than allowing themselves to be used as agents of destabilisation.

The deputy governor charged the traditional ruler to reconcile with the aggrieved chiefs and youths, who were enraged over some actions taken by the traditional council, to make peace with them in the interest of unity and development.

“It is wrong for the youths to harass the traditional ruler and some chiefs or call them unprintable names. That is unacceptable.

“There was nothing wrong in them staging peaceful protest, but it has to be done with respect and civility. Peace and development are very key to governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration and nobody will be allowed to tamper with the relative peace we are currently enjoying in our dear state”, she said.

Afuye appealed to all the chiefs and eminent personalities in the community to cooperate with the traditional ruler in the running of Omuo-Oke’s affairs.

She urged them to wait for the court’s verdict on the supremacy battle between Saaba and Ahinda traditional title holders over the control of Isanlu quarters.

According to her, inability to operate the major market in the town and pursue other development strides are affecting the community and robbing it of some of the economic and political benefits.

She urged the traditional ruler to fashion ways to reconcile with the aggrieved youths and chiefs, adding that he should refrain from alleged indiscriminate arrest of any of his subjects.

“Now, the case is in court, pending the time the issue will be resolved, the government doesn’t want to hear of any case of disruption or violent protest in Omuo- Oke.

“We don’t want any loss of life and property, let us focus on peace and development”,  Afuye added.

Also, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Mr Ojo Atibioke, urged relevant stakeholders to maintain peace and find a common front to broker truce and work together.