The Egbe Council of Chiefs has issued an official communiqué formally reaffirming its unwavering support for Senator Sunday Steve Karimi while simultaneously dissociating itself from a faction of individuals who have been falsely claiming to act on behalf of the Egbe community.
The communiqué, signed by the Chairman of the Egbe Council of Chiefs, Chief Paul Sunday Alabi, and its Secretary, Chief Babalola Femi (Ologun Ijalu), was issued on March 18, 2026, in response to recent public developments involving certain individuals who the Council describes as having made unauthorized representations in the name of Egbe.
In a measured and carefully worded statement, the Council was unambiguous about its position on Senator Karimi. “The Council reaffirms its unwavering support for its distinguished son, Senator Sunday Karimi, whose representation continues to advance the interests of the people,” the communiqué states — an affirmation that carries the full weight of the legitimate traditional and community authority of Egbe.
The Council was equally clear about the status of those who have been acting in Egbe’s name without authorisation. It noted that the individuals in question made false allegations against Senator Karimi in the public domain and at a press conference. The Senator, acting in good faith, sought a retraction and an unreserved apology. When that was refused, he was compelled to initiate legal action to protect his name and reputation. Following interventions by prominent Egbe indigenes, the matter was amicably resolved and the case withdrawn before any court sitting. Rather than accept that resolution in the spirit in which it was offered, these individuals continued their public campaign.
The Council’s verdict on their fitness to represent Egbe is definitive. “They are in no way worthy of representing the Egbe people or the Council of Chiefs in any form,” the communiqué states. “Those involved in these actions neither have its approval nor represent its position. Their conduct is a clear deviation from the values, customs, and traditions of Egbe and is hereby strongly condemned.”
The communiqué also makes an important clarification that speaks to the Council’s integrity and maturity as an institution. It states clearly that the Egbe Council of Chiefs remains a peaceful and law-abiding body, not in any dispute or rift with the State Government, and expressed appreciation for the Governor’s commitment to the development and well-being of Egbe and Yagba West. This measured acknowledgement demonstrates that the Council’s condemnation of the faction is not a political offensive — it is a principled defence of the community’s integrity, its traditions, and the legitimate voice of its people.
The communiqué closes with the Council formally dissociating itself from the actions, statements, and any unauthorized representations made in the name of Egbe, reaffirming its commitment to unity, peace, and the preservation of the community’s integrity.
