The Ekiti State Government has issued a 21-day ultimatum to kingmakers in Oke-Ako in the Ikole Local Government Area of the state to fill the Owa stool that had been vacant for 25 years.

The Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, gave the directive on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti while interacting with stakeholders from the community.

Ms Afuye said that to ease the selection process, the kingmakers should narrow the emergence of a new Owa of Oke-Ako to “Oke and Odo Aafin” extractions of the Aafin ruling house.

She said, “The third arm named “Afata,” has been barred from participating in kingship because they had been producing kings from that dynasty.’’

She appealed to the Afata family to withdraw the case they instituted at the court to facilitate a seamless selection process.

She stated that the rampaging kidnappings and killings in the Ipao-Oke – Ako-Irele axis would have been suppressed long ago if there had been a substantive traditional ruler who could rally his people against the daredevils.

“We have no reason not to continue with the selection. No restraining order or stay of execution order from any court can stop the government and kingmakers from continuing with the selection process, so we must move forward. Let your town move forward; many of you are not living there. Nobody will be happy with the way things are in the Oke Ako community. Oke Aafin and Odo Aafin should go and produce the next king. Afata should step down because it has enjoyed the stool before. Do what is necessary to save your town from underdevelopment,” Ms Afuye said.

Commending the government for the action, an elder from the Aafin royal family, Mohammed Obafemi, said the crisis stemmed from the Afata ruling house’s insistence that “they have the sole right to produce Owa of Oke Ako.”

Mr Obafemi explained that, by history, male children from Oke Idi Osan and Aafin ruling houses have legitimate right to the royal stool.

The chairman of the local government, Bayo Omojola, commended the government for being truthful and open in the handling of the matter.

Mr Omojola assured that the local government would complement the efforts of the state government to ensure the success of the selection processes. 

(NAN)