Ekiti community gets 21-day ultimatum to fill vacant throne

The Ekiti State Government has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the kingmakers of Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area to commence the process of selecting and installing a new monarch, following a 25-year vacancy on the Owa of Oke Ako throne.

This directive was made known in a statement on Wednesday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Victor Ogunje.

It followed a meeting between the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, and stakeholders from the community in her office in Ado Ekiti.

Afuye expressed the government’s displeasure at the prolonged leadership vacuum, emphasising that it was time to move forward.

She announced that only two branches—Oke Aafin and Odo Aafin—of the Aafin Ruling House would be eligible to present candidates for the throne.

The third arm, Afata, was excluded on the grounds that it had previously produced the last monarch.

“The deputy governor appealed to the Afata family to withdraw the case it filed at the Supreme Court to allow for a seamless selection process,” the statement read.

Afuye noted that the lack of traditional leadership had hampered security and development efforts in the area, particularly amid rising cases of kidnapping and violence in the Ipao–Oke Ako–Irele axis.

She said, “We have no reason not to proceed with the selection. Let your town move forward. Many of you no longer live there, and no one is happy with the situation in Oke Ako. Let Oke Aafin and Odo Aafin go and present candidates. Afata should step down, having already benefited from the stool.”

“We are giving you a 21-day ultimatum to put your house in order and take the necessary steps to rescue your community from underdevelopment,” she added.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Ojo Atibioke, said the state government would formally direct the Ikole Local Government to instruct the Aafin Ruling House to begin the selection process.

She emphasised that all eligible princes, except those from the Afata lineage, should be considered, and that the process must be conducted transparently, in the presence of local authorities and security operatives.

“From now on, the government will pay special attention to issues affecting Oke Ako,” Atibioke added.

Speaking on the matter, Alhaji Mohammed Obafemi, an elder of the Aafin Royal Dynasty, said the dispute arose from Afata’s insistence that it alone held the right to produce the Owa of Oke Ako.

He clarified that, historically and by tradition, all male descendants from the Oke Idi Osan and Aafin Ruling Houses were eligible to ascend the throne.

The Ejemu of Oke Ako and head of the kingmakers, Chief Olajide, confirmed that the selection process had previously commenced but was stalled by the Supreme Court case.

He assured that four out of the six kingmakers were still alive and ready to proceed with the selection of a new monarch who would lead the town to greater development.

The Chairman of Ikole Local Government,  Bayo Omojola, commended the state government for its transparency in handling the matter and pledged the council’s support in ensuring the success of the process.

The Regent of Oke Ako, Princess Tinuade Adebayo, was also present at the meeting.