EKITI: Residents Protest Stalls Monarch's Installation

Some Youths and elders in Araromi-Obo Ekiti on Friday protested against the purported approval and planned installation of Ebenezer Ojo as the new monarch of the town.

The state government on Thursday directed that Ojo should be installed as new monarch of the town.

But the protesters said he is not from the rulling family.

According to a member of the Odolofin family, Mr Alabi Omoniyi, Ojo is from Balemo Chieftaincy Family, which is not under the Declaration of 1982.

“We want the Governor to stop anything concerning that because of the peace of our community,” he added.

Also, the President of Araromi-obo Progressive Council, Adedara Sunday Aderemi, noted that the issue is still pending at the Supreme Court. He stressed that the state government should wait for the judgement of the apex court before the installation.

“The Belemo chieftancy didn’t have declaration, there is no way you can go and pick somebody to be the King in the Araromi-Obo. If you have to pick a King, it has to be from the ruling family.

“Ebenezer Ojo is not from the ruling house and we are appealing to the Governor of Ekiti State not to act against the issue that is pending in court.”

Also, the Legal Adviser of Odolofin Family, Barrister Paul Akomolafe said the pronouncement of the government was illegal and tantamount to contempt of court.

He noted that the actions of the state government remained illegitimate until after the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Speaking on the regency matter, he knocked the Bureau of Chieftaincy for issuing a letter when an appeal is already pending in the high court, adding that it is against the rule of law to install a regent who is not from the ruling family.

“The first daughter of the monarch must be the regent after the demise of the King, which is Odolofin who is now Owa-Olobo and his first daughter, Mrs Ajayi should be the regent but they went ahead and picked Ogundaisi which is not from Odolofin, which is total aberration.”

He therefore called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji to resolve all pending matters in order for peace to reign in the community.

DAILY POST