Indigenes and stakeholders in the vacant stool of Alara in Aramoko-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government area of Ekiti State have called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji to order the conclusion of the process that will lead to the installation of Prince Femi Akinlabi as the monarch of the town.
The princesses and stakeholders, including Adeolu Adediran, Adeniyi Samuel, and Olusola Adeniyi, said the process that produced Akinlabi from the Olokun Ruling House is free, fair, and credible in line with the tradition of the ancient town.
Addressing the media in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the stakeholders said the representatives of the Ekiti State government and religious leaders were present during the selection process that produced Akinlabi as the proposed monarch of the town.
Some indigenes of the town, including Adeyemi Oluwadapo Adebowale, Isaac Oladipo Aladeloye Fabolude, and Qudus Babatunde, have asked for the restart of the ongoing selection process of the Alara Stool, alleging irregularities in the process.
However, Adediran and two other princesses asked Governor Oyebanji to discard the petition against the candidature of the Akinlabi as the monarch of the town, saying there was no irregularity in the choice of Prince.
The princesses said, “The selection process for the Alara of Aramoko stool was conducted in strict conformity with the registered Aramoko Chieftaincy Declaration. All due procedures were followed.”
According to them, all relevant government officials were present and supervised the selection exercise. The government officials, they said, included the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, the Director, Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Secretary, Ekiti West Local Government Traditional Council.
Others, they said, included the Chief Imam of Aramoko, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria of the town, Aramoko, executive members of the Aramoko Development Association (ADA), Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Executive Chairman, Ekiti West, and Secretary to the local government.
Also, they said Ifa Consultation was done by Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon from Osun State. They said the entire divination was conducted openly in the presence of all stakeholders, observers, and government officials.
Their words, “The process was recorded on video, and the footage is available to refute any claim of secrecy or manipulation. All contestants were told to bring an Ifa diviner and not just one aspirant.
“Every qualified prince from the Olokun Ruling House was given equal opportunity. The “weeding/qualification” stage is standard in all chieftaincy selections to ensure only eligible candidates proceed. No one was unjustly excluded.
“The Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon is a renowned Ifa Priest and internationally respected for integrity and impartiality. He conducted the Ifa consultation without bias or favour. Any allegation of manipulation is baseless and an insult to the sacred oracle.”
The stakeholders said the Alara stool is not anyone’s personal property but a sacred and revered stool in Yorubaland.
Consequently, they called on the Ekiti State Government to disregard these faceless miscreants and conclude the selection process promptly so that Aramoko can have a king.
