The head of the administration of the town is the king who is assisted by a council of chiefs called “Iwarafa”. Members of the council are, Ogboni (Iba), Odofinemi (Okemi), Asalu (Ifakin), Ejemu (Oke Uba), Edumorun (Odo Iju) and Aro (Iloo). (The members of council are not arranged in order of seniority.)
These chiefs are the eyes and ears of the king and directly responsible to the king. They meet regularly to take decisions affecting the town and these are passed to the town people by the town crier.
The age long system of traditional administration of Ogotun Ekiti is patterned in such a way that all her citizens participate at different levels thereby creating a sense of belonging, with full participation in the maintenance of peace, good government and internal security of the town and her neighbours.
The Ologotun of Ogotun Ekiti is the head and the custodian of Ogotun traditions. His opinion is sought before major decisions are taken and his authority is final.
He is assisted by the Chiefs who are grouped according to their status within the community, the roles they perform and in some cases their profession. Some of the Chiefs meet at the palace regularly under the Chairmanship of the Ologotun while some hold their meetings in their leaders’ houses. The role of for their wards while yet others determine minor issues that affect their extended family system.
From the description below, it will be seen that some of the Chiefs are directly responsible to the Ologotun while some are responsible to the Ologotun through their heads.
The Iwarafa are six in number. They are next to the Ologotun in rank. Each of them is the head of his quarters or area. They hold meetings at the palace under the chairmanship of the Ologotun. They are: Ogboni (Second in Command to the Ologotun), Odofinemi, Asalu, Aro, Ejemu, Edunmorun.
The Iharawa are next to the Iharafa. They join the Iharafa at meeting on many occasions to deliberate on urgent matters affecting the whole town.
Elegbe Ulerin are war Chiefs. They maintain peace within the town and defend the territorial boundaries of the town by checking invasions or infiltrators.
Alabebe Ule Asao are chiefs who perform the same duties as the Iharafa and Iharawa. They are next in ranks to the Ihares. They hold meetings with the Ihares in Chief Ogboni’s house; the Elegbe Ule Asao holds meeting in chief Asao’s house.
Elegbe/Egbe, Ile Asao is next to the Elegbe-Ulerin. They perform the same duties as the Elegbe Ulerin.
Obinrinle are Women Chiefs. The women chiefs, in each quarters hold meeting in their heads’ houses thus; Uba in Eyeji’s house. The same Eyeji presides at meetings that involve all the women chiefs in the town. Obinrinle Okemi meet in Eyemolu’s house. Ojumu is the most senior chief at Ifakin, while Eyewi presides over the meetings of women chiefs in Iloda.
Aworo are the priests. They ward off pestilence, epidemics or sudden out break of small pox etc. They consult the oracle on behalf of the town and perform rituals.
Ihoroje i.e. Iworo meje in the old days were next to be Iharafa and superior to the Iharawa. Only four of these chiefs are known and they have since been merged with the Iharawa chiefs.
Odes, (the hunters) like the obinrinle, meet in their heads’ houses in each quarter. Their overall head is Olumojo, Ifakin. The Olu Ode (Chief Hunter) at Okemi is Akogbona, at Iba, Olode and at Iloda is Tobaase. They undertake hunting expedition whenever the Ologotun has important ceremonies to perform and also during the annual traditional festival Ujobiuja. They perform rites and appease Ogun when the peace of the town or their members is threatened.
Ewere, though not in existence, involves youths.
They are led by the Elewere i.e. OloriEwere. They are summoned for special purposes such as clearing bushes within and around the city. They open up gutters to allow water to flow freely, fill pot holes and fetch fire wood for old chiefs to enable them keep themselves warm in cold season.
Apart from the above, the town is administered on street basis and appeals go from there to the King’s court. Everybody is the keeper of his neighbor and this simple communal life continued until it was modified by western civilization.
The period of Ewere prepares youths for adult life because endurance, obedience and respect to constituted authorities and punctuality are some of the lessons they learn. Indiscipline is effectively curbed. On discharge from Ewere, graduates are ripe enough to marry and to be made chiefs.
Today, each of the quarters is governed by the head chief and they are as follow:
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