Ayebode, Emure communities get new monarchs

The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji has installed the new Owa of Ayebode-Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area of the state, Oba Olusola Emmanuel Omolayo and the Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, in Emure Local Government Area, Oba Babatunde Ajiboye.

The respectable Owa stool of Ayebode-Ekiti became vacant, sequel to the demise of Oba  Augustine Tayo Famoroti, who hailed from Famoroti ruling house, on September 24, 2022, while the Elemure stool was vacant after the passing of Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, a retired commissioner of police, in May 2024.

Oba Ajiboye is from the Abenimota ruling house, while Oba Omolayo is from the Aketepe royal dynasty.

The governor, at the separate events appealed to the new traditional rulers to partner the state government to ramp up security and development at the grassroots

Oyebanji, represented by the state deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, tasked the Ayebode-Ekiti monarch to aggressively pursue unity and brotherhood in the town, charging him to reach out to other contenders for the coveted seat and work with them with love and united spirit.

The governor said empowering  the citizens and making them economically productive and functional wherever they live, remains the  best way to banish poverty among the rural dwellers.

“The issue of security requires all of us coming together to ensure that our people are safe. Governor Biodun Oyebanji places high priority on the welfare and security of our people. Let us support all the laudable actions being taken to achieve this task,” he said.

Addressing the community on the need to be receptive to the new monarch, Oyebanji said: “I want you to cooperate with your monarch, rally round him, so that your community can witness the expected peace, unity and development during his reign.

“I wish the new traditional ruler long live and prosperous reign on the throne of his forebears.”

In his acceptance speech, Oba Omolayo, promised to partner the state government to fast track development in the community and make the community epicentre of unity.

Oba Omolayo pledged commitment to rekindling the hope and aspirations  of his people, by working with all well-meaning indigenes to promote the culture, customs and traditions of the community.

In a related development, the governor while installing Oba Ajiboye as new Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, called on the aggrieved contenders to refrain from embarking on frivolous and tortuous judicial processes to truncate the enthronement of a monarch duly appointed by government in any community.

He said uniting with a new monarch always fast track development and foster peace in a community, than to get enmeshed in court actions that could stoke divisions and bad blood.

The deputy governor maintained that the governor neither interfered in the selection duel, nor imposed any candidate on the town.

Defending the government’s actions, he stoutly clarified that the approval of the new Elemure was undertaken in accordance with the customs and traditions of the kingdom.

The governor added that his government decided to rev up actions on the installation of a new monarch in the town to present  a leader, who can effectively collaborate with his administration to halt occasional cases of kidnapping and banditry on Emure-Eporo axis.

“The money that you are supposed to spend on development, don’t use it to hire any lawyer to challenge a process that was done with openness or to derail what we have legitimately done.

“The governor and other government officials, including myself didn’t show interest in who becomes the Elemure. The government approved whom the kingmakers presented as the preferred candidate.

“I want to appeal to those having cases in court to withdraw them and join hands with our royal father to develop this town. The development, peace and unity of this kingdom and its respect should be paramount to all of you, not the removal of a monarch,” she said.

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Speaking, Oba Ajiboye, saluted the state government and the kingmakers for being painstaking and transparent in the selection process, assuring that he will work assiduously to attract laudable projects to the community.

Oba Ajiboye promised to work zealously to unite all the warring factions in the town and form a synergy with the government to tackle the menace of insecurity in the area.

“It is my appeal to my brothers who contested against me to join me in the task of developing this town. We have no other town to call ours. I am focused in my passion for development. I won’t be distracted and we shall get to the promised land,” he said.