David Williams
The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to Oke-Ako Ekiti kingmakers to set machinery in motion and install a new monarch, following 25 years of royal crisis and conundrum.
Oyebanji, represented by the State’s Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, handed down the order, on Wednesday, while interacting with stakeholders from the community over inability to produce a king after 25 years, via a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje.
To ease the selection process, Mrs Afuye narrowed the emergence of a new Owa of Oke Ako to “Oke and Odo Aafin” extractions of Aafin Ruling House, while the third arm named “Afata”, was barred from participating on the basis that they had been the one producing the king from that dynasty.
As part of the troubleshooting efforts, the Deputy Governor, appealed to Afata family, to withdraw the case they instituted at the Apex Court, to facilitate a seamless selection process.
Mrs Afuye stated that the rampaging and troubling kidnappings and killings in Ipao-Oke-Ako-Irele axis would have been suppressed for long, if the town has a substantive king that could rally his people against the daredevil bandits terrorizing the area.
She said: “We have no reason not to continue with the selection. No restraining order, or a stay of execution order from any court that can stop the government and kingmakers from continuing with the selection process, so we have to move forward.
“Let your town move forward. Many of you are not living there. Nobody will be happy with the way things are in Oke Ako. Let Oke Aafin and Odo Aafin go and produce the next king, Afata should stand down, because it has enjoyed the stool before.
“We give you an ultimatum of 21 days to put your house in order and do what is necessary to save your town from underdevelopment”.
The Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon Ojo Atibioke, disclosed that government will officially communicate the Ikole Local Government to order the Aafin Ruling House to select a new Owa.
“All the legitimate princes from Aafin Ruling House, with the exemption of those from Afata lineage, should be allowed to participate in the selection. Nobody should be excluded and this should be done in the presence of the council and security agencies to monitor the situation.
” From now, the government will pay special attention to Oke Ako issues”, Atibioke said.
Commending the government for the action, an elder from Aafin royal dynasty, Alhaji Mohammed Obafemi, said the crisis stemmed from Afata Ruling House’s insistence that they have sole right to produce Owa of Oke Ako.
Obafemi said by history, customs and traditions, all the male children from Oke Idi Osan and Aafin Ruling Houses have legitimacy to the royal stool.
The head of kingmakers in the town and Ejemu of Oke Ako, Chief Olajide, said they had in the time past commenced the selection, when suddenly a supreme court case came up that stalled the process.
Chief Olajide said four out of the six kingmakers are alive and are ready to take actions to enthrone a monarch that will advance the development of the town in all spheres.
The Chairman of Ikole Local Government, Hon Bayo Omojola, applauded the government for being truthful and open in the handling of the matter, assuring that his council will complement the efforts for the success of the selection process.
The parley was attended by the Regent of the community, Princess Tinuade Adebayo.
