The Odimulele Ruling House of Araromi-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, has called on the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji to reverse the approval of Prince Adebomi Babalola as the monarch of the town.
This appeal was made on Wednesday by the contestants from the ruling house, Afolayan Ademola and Babalola Adeniji, during a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The contestants criticized the state government’s decision at its State Executive Council Meeting on Tuesday, which confirmed Babalola as the Alararomi of Araromi-Ekiti.
The Odimulele ruling family had previously protested Babalola’s nomination in April 2024, highlighting that a certificate forgery case filed against him is still pending in Federal High Court.
The contestants alleged that the king-making process was fraudulent and urged the state governor to reverse his approval to ensure peaceful co-existence in the town.
According to them, “We have conducted our investigation and found that he did not attend the University of Ibadan as claimed, and if he ever attended that university, he did not attain that certificate.
“He worked at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) as a physiotherapist with a forged certificate. When the authority of the institution found out that he was parading a questionable certificate, he went into hiding only to resurface later.
“We don’t want a king that the police will be pursuing for the forgery of an NYSC certificate.
“The certificate forgery case filed against him is still pending in Federal High Court in Akure. If the government rejects forged certificates in the civil service, why impose such a person as our oba forever?
“We have also challenged the process that led to his emergence at the High Court in Ado, the decision of government is tantamount to contempt of Court”
“We appeal to the government of Ekiti State, through His Excellency, Biodun Oyebanji, to reverse this decision and follow due process.
“It’s disheartening to hear that the Ekiti State Government can assent to the enthronement of a certificate forger as the king of our town.
“We have begged Governor Biodun Oyebanji not to turn our town into a land of chaos. He should reconsider this action and follow due process according to chieftaincy law”.
