David Williams
The Oduduwa Citizen Liberation Vanguard (OCLV) has urged the Ekiti State Government to refrain from altering the established process for selecting the new Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti, warning that any deviation from the provisions of the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration (2024) could lead to litigation and heighten tension in the community.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by its Coordinator and Secretary, Korede Olanipekun and Abiola Kupolati.
The group alleged that there were moves to abandon the selection process already conducted under the gazetted Chieftaincy Declaration and replace it with a new directive lacking legal backing.
The group appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to ensure that the selection is concluded strictly in accordance with the existing declaration by allowing the recognised kingmakers to complete the process without political interference.
According to OCLV, the selection process, involving eight contestants from the Olokun Ruling House, was conducted in line with the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration and supervised by officials of the state government.
The organisation said the exercise included Ifa divination, which produced three shortlisted contestants – Prince Tope Ademiluyi, Prince Oluwafemi Akinlabi and Prince Adewumi Adetoyinbo.
It explained that the 12 recognised kingmakers subsequently voted, resulting in a 6-6 tie between Prince Oluwafemi Akinlabi and Prince Tope Ademiluyi, while Prince Adewumi Adetoyinbo did not receive any vote.
OCLV maintained that the entire exercise, from the screening of contestants to the Ifa consultation and voting by the kingmakers, was supervised by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Atibioke, the Permanent Secretary and other government officials.
Describing the process as free, fair and transparent, the group argued that the government could not claim ignorance of the stage already reached.
The organisation, however, alleged that the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs were attempting to sideline the constitutional role of the kingmakers by directing another round of Ifa consultation outside the procedure prescribed by the Chieftaincy Declaration.
It further alleged that some government officials planned to discard the almost completed process and secretly place an identifying mark on the envelope of their preferred candidate before presenting it for another Ifa consultation.
According to OCLV, the alleged plan was intended to enable selected Ifa priests identify the marked envelope and declare the preferred candidate as the chosen Alara.
The group described the alleged move as an attempt to manipulate the selection process, warning that such action would not be accepted by the people of Aramoko-Ekiti and could expose the exercise to legal challenges.
The statement reads, “The Oduduwa Citizen Liberation Vanguard (OCLV) has appealed to the Ekiti State Government not to alter the established selection process for the new Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti.
“In a statement jointly signed by its Coordinator, Korede Olanipekun and Secretary, Abiola Kupolati, OCLV warned that any attempt to amend the existing Chieftaincy Declaration through executive order, or to abandon the process already conducted under the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration (2024), would amount to a breach of the rule of law and could trigger litigation and avoidable tension in the ancient town.
“The group urged Governor Biodun Oyebanji to ensure the process is concluded strictly in line with the gazetted declaration, without political interference, by allowing the Kingmakers to choose the new Alara in compliance with the existing law and not under a new directive that lacks legal backing.
“According to OCLV, the selection process involved eight contestants from the Olokun Ruling House. It was conducted in accordance with the Chieftaincy Declaration and supervised by government officials.
“The process included Ifa divination, which produced three best-qualified contestants:
- Prince Tope Ademiluyi
- Prince Oluwafemi Akinlabi
- Prince Adewumi Adetoyinbo
“Thereafter, the 12 recognised kingmakers voted. The result was a 6-6 tie between Prince Oluwafemi Akinlabi and Prince Tope Ademiluyi, while Prince Adewumi Adetoyinbo received no vote.
“OCLV stated that the entire exercise from screening through Ifa divination to voting by kingmakers was conducted and supervised by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Atibioke, the Permanent Secretary and other government officials. The group described it as free, fair, and transparent, and argued that government cannot claim ignorance of the stage reached.
“OCLV alleged that the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs were attempting to hijack the constitutional role of the kingmakers by ordering another round of Ifa consultation outside the legal process, in favour of a preferred candidate.
“The group further claimed it has credible information that some government officials plan to discard the almost completed process and secretly place an identifying mark on the envelope of their preferred candidate before presenting it for another Ifa consultation. The aim, it alleged, is to enable selected Ifa priests to recognize the marked envelope and pronounce the preferred candidate as the chosen Alara.
“OCLV described this as a calculated attempt to manipulate the process and warned that it would not be accepted by the people of Aramoko-Ekiti and would expose the exercise to judicial challenge.
“The group recalled that Aramoko-Ekiti has a precedent for resolving a tie. During the selection that produced the late Oba Adegoke Olu Adeyemi and Prince Segun Aderemi, the Head of Kingmakers directed a re-vote instead of abandoning the exercise. OCLV said a re-vote, if necessary, would be consistent with the town’s established practice.
“OCLV insisted that the constitutional role of Kingmakers cannot be taken away by any government official because it is backed by a gazetted Declaration. The Ekiti State Government is neither listed as Kingmakers nor authorized by the Declaration to appoint Ifa priests.
“The organization dismissed allegations that Kingmakers had been bribed as baseless. It said its findings did not show that any kingmaker collected money from any contestant. Instead, it claimed there were reports within political circles that some members of the APC in Ekiti were mobilizing funds for a preferred candidate. OCLV urged that such claims be properly investigated rather than using unsubstantiated allegations to discredit the kingmakers. It called on the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner to apologize to the kingmakers if they cannot substantiate their claims.
“Our position is not in support of any particular Prince. We are defending the supremacy of the law, the integrity of the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Declaration, and the sanctity of the Yoruba traditional institution. Government must resist every temptation to manipulate the process and instead allow due process, justice, and transparency to prevail.
“OCLV therefore urged Governor Oyebanji to uphold the rule of law and allow the Chieftaincy Declaration to take its full course without interference”.
