Adebayo Adenrele
The Ekiti State Government, has issued a 60-day ultimatum to Ipao- Ekiti kingmakers to pick a new Obanla to superintend over the town, following the persistent delay in filling the vacant stool in the community.
Addressing the town’s Kingmakers at her office today, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, attributed the lingering insecurity pummeling the town to delay in the enthronement of a new Obanla to respond to the frightening situation.
Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, expressed disappointment at the protracted Obaship tussle dogging the ascension six years after the demise of Oba Joseph Abolaji Aina, adding it may be compelled to appoint warrant chiefs to spearhead the selection process should the Kingmakers foot-drag on the matter.
She also warned the Kingmakers against being recalcitrant to picking a candidate, out of the five names forwarded by the Adesogan Ruling House to occupy the vacant stool.
She added that in line with the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law, only the family of the next ruling house enjoys unfettered traditional backing to forward the names of nominees to the Kingmakers for ratification.
In her words, “We are not going back at this juncture. You have traditional ways of picking your king. Go back home and relate with your people. We are mandating you to pick one of the five nominees sent to you.
“We don’t want you to go back home and mess up the process. Make sure the process is transparent, early and speedy. What we want is a king because of the safety and progress of the town and its people.
“Ipao Ekiti has been stagnant because of this delay. Not having a king is affecting your development negatively. Once the names had been forwarded to you, we believe you must act on it .
“Carry all the necessary people along, don’t leave anybody behind. Are you happy with the way kidnappers had been abducting your people? You can’t know the ruling house more than the heads of the family.
“It won’t speak well for you to be alive and government is picking warrant chiefs to do the selection. The government is not happy with the delay because of the insecurity, so the Kingmakers must cooperate with us.
“We are giving you 14 days to hold your town’s meeting and get a new king within the next 60 days. Let us move on with the normal rites and get a new Obanla.”
The Kingmakers, represented by Obaleyo, Chief Olayemi Joseph Oladele and Oboe, Chief Kolawole Olopo, promised to communicate the government’s position to the ruling house.
The Kingmakers said they had also supported the government’s position that Adesogan, rather than Ogunwuyi and Angbese Ruling Houses should be given the leeway to present candidates for the selection.