Ekiti community asks Ooni to intervene in monarch selection

File: Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi

Residents of Aramoko Ekiti, the headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, have appealed to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to intervene in the obaship crisis rocking the community.
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‎‎Specifically, the residents begged the monarch to plead with the state governor, Mr. Abiodun Oyebanji, to allow the Kingmakers to conclude the process of selecting a new monarch for the ancient town.
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‎‎The stool of Alara of Aramoko Ekiti became vacant after Oba Adegoke Adeyemi died in August 2025 at the age of 82. Since then, the process of selecting a new monarch has not been concluded.
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‎‎This was contained in a statement issued, on behalf of the people of the community, on Monday, by the head and the Secretary of the Kingmakers High Chief Julius Adebayo and High Chief Kolade Oyebade respectively.
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‎According to the statement, the selection process had been suspended for the past six months after the 12 kingmakers were unable to pick a candidate out of the three contestants to the stool

‎The statement read, “We, the Alara-in-Council and the entire people of Aramoko-Ekiti, humbly appeal to Ooni Adeyeye  Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, to intervene and plead with His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to allow us conclude the selection of our new Alara.
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‎”As a town founded by descendants of Oduduwa, Aramoko-Ekiti shares an unbroken cultural and spiritual bond with Ile-Ife. Our customs, our crown, and our chieftaincy rites all emanate from Ife. For this reason, the stool of Alara is not just a local throne. It is part of the wider fabric of Yoruba culture and tradition that Kabiyesi superintends.
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‎”The process to select a new Alara commenced in April 2026 in strict compliance with the Alara of Aramoko Chieftaincy Declaration and the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law. After screening, three princes were shortlisted by Ifa through Baba Araba Elebuibon. Voting by the 12 Kingmakers ended in a six-six tie. In line with due process, a second round of voting was to be conducted.”
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‎The statement added that the state government postponed the exercise, and up to the present time, the process has not resumed.
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‎”Our letters to government have not received a response. Kabiyesi, we are constrained to run to you as our father and the custodian of Yoruba culture. The stool of Alara remains vacant. Our youths are restive. Our traditional festivals and rites cannot hold.

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‎”We therefore beg Kabiyesi Onirisa to please use your revered office to appeal to Governor Oyebanji to kindly grant permission for the Kingmakers to reconvene immediately and complete the selection.”
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‎‎The kingmakers expressed confidence that with Ooni’s intervention, “this matter will be resolved peacefully and the ancient bond between Aramoko and Ife will continue to be protected and strengthened.”
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‎”We have faith in Kabiyesi’s wisdom and in Governor Oyebanji’s respect for law and tradition,” the statement concluded.
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