The Princes contesting for the vacant position of the Traditional Ruler of Araromi-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Prince Sunday Babalola Adeniji and Prince Ademola Afolayan have appealed to the Governor of the State, His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to discourage the imposition of king on the community.
The appeal was made by the two Princes on Thursday while addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
Prince Sunday Babalola Adeniji, while addressing newsmen said being a Prince from the Odimulele Ruling Family, the next ruling house, he has every right and even in vantage position to contest for the vacant throne.
According to Prince Adeniji, “I am one of the four Princes contesting for the vacant position of the monarch of our community but to my surprise, just of recent based on the issues we have been having in the selection of who to be the next king of the community among the four of us that are contesting the position,
“The four of us are actually from the Odimulele ruling house in which no one can be said not to be qualified for the position but since the four of us are contesting for only one position which cannot be occupied by the four of us at the same time, the kingmakers began the selection process as expected to be done. But funny enough, one person out the four of us is trying to disorganise the normal process, trying all things possible to be enthroned as the next monarch.
Adeniji who so much believes in due process if he eventually emerges after going through the normal processes that the rest contestants would have to bow for me and that if it is somebody else among the four contestants, that he would have no choice than to bow and prostrate to greet the person.
” If things are done the right way, there will be atmosphere of peace in the community throughout the reign of a king. Unlike the political post that you would have known exactly when to vacate the very day you are sworn in.
“But if for financial gains some people are now consulting fake oracle, forgetting that the post of a king is completely different from that of political as king usually rules for a life time.
“That’s why we are appealing to the peace loving Governor of the State, His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to wade into the matter by helping us to call on the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs to steer clear of the selection process of the next king of Araromi – Ekiti for the sake of peace.
Prince Adeniji alleged that one out of the four of them contesting for the the Obaship has been going round threatening the people to the extent that he was even telling the kingmakers that they would be deposed and that would be replaced with warrant chiefs saying he’s already having government backing. Adding that some miscreants in the community have been throwing stones at the houses of the kingmakers. “To become a king shouldn’t be a do or die affair because it is only God that enthrones”, said the Prince.
Calling on the State government to personally intervene in the matter, both Prince Adeniji and Prince Afolayan, said the seven kingmakers haven’t concluded the selection process and urged the government to give more time for them to do it the way it should be done because we don’t want any problem in our community.
“We learnt that the Deputy Governor has instructed the kingmakers to come up with the name of Babatunde Babalola Adebomi and append their signatures on it but the kingmakers refused, claiming that selecting just anybody without going through the normal processes is never the tradition of the community.
Recounting, “what we were told when the oracle was to be consulted was that the four of us contesting for the royal stool would have our own observers and that the kingmakers would equally have their own observers. But I was surprised when I got to know that he (Adebomi) personally brought the Ifa priest who happens to be a brother of his wife.
“Right from the beginning, he has been enjoying the support of the local government because the names of the four of us that are contesting for the post were supposed to be compiled and presented by the head of Odimulele family, instead it was done by the former secretary of Ijero Local Government”, Prince Adeniji claimed.
However, they said the case is already in the court, waiting for justice to be done.