The Ekiti State Government, has approved the process being undertaken by kingmakers to select a new Elesun of Esun Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area of the State to fill the vacant royal stool.
The government also ratified the decision of the town to pick the candidate from Atiba Ruling House, instead of Iloda, that had unilaterally and consistently produced the Elesun for over 200 years.
The stool became vacant sequel to the demise of Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, who was one of the two kings that were killed by gunmen along Ipao-Oke Ako-Irele road in 2024.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the approval, on Tuesday, while presiding over a petition written by one Ireti Omojola, on behalf of Iloda Ruling House, protesting that only the ruling house can produce Elesun.
Mrs Afuye, via a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, countered the position canvassed by the petitioner, saying the Chieftaincy Declarations recognised Atiba, Iloda and Ejisun Ruling Houses as three royal dynasties that can produce Elesun in the town.
Mrs Afuye posited that the combined effects of the Appeal Court Judgement delivered on 14th April, 2025, that nullified the judgement of the State High Court appropriating sole right to Iloda Ruling House to produce Elesun and the outcome of the Justice Aladejana Chieftaincy Review Commission, had invalidated the petitioner’s argument.
Mrs Afuye appealed to the community to allow peace in the community in tandem with the political philosophy of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, that only a serene and tranquil environment can witness development.
“We should allow the selection process to continue, nobody must cause any violence. We have been given the go- ahead and all the stakeholders involved should follow the normal traditions and customs expected to be undergone. Government has no vested interest in the throne.
“The petitioner has gone to challenge the government at the Supreme Court, let us wait for the outcome. But for now, we have no legal obstruction that can disallow us from continuing with the selection process. Esun Ekiti must move forward, you are one family.
“Let Atiba Ruling House that you have all agreed with to produce the new Elesun”, she declared.
Speaking further on the issue, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon. Ojo Atibioke, added that Chieftaincy Declarations of each town remains the working bible and official framework being used to appoint traditional rulers, saying the government won’t deviate from this practice.
Atibioke stated that there was available evidence to substantiate the fact that the late monarchs, Oba Samuel Omojola and Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin consented to the inclusion of Ejisun and Atiba to be part of the Ruling houses in the community.
The Commissioner said the government is neither poised nor interested in trampling on the rights of anyone, saying they are only following procedure laid down by law.
However, speaking to the petition on behalf of Iloda Ruling House, Mr. Ireti Omojola, insisted that the first Elesun chieftaincy declarations of 1957 and Justice Oluwole Chieftaincy Review Commission of 1982 under Ondo State, vividly precluded Ejisun and Atiba from being enlisted as part of the royal dynasty.
Omojola stated that the State High Court presided over by Justice Dele Omotoso also nullified the inclusion of the two ruling houses in the chieftaincy declaration and affirmed that only Iloda should be recognised.
The Prince maintained that “the court in its judgement ruled that by practice, history, native law, customs and traditions, Ejisun and Atiba are not recognised as ruling houses in Esun Ekiti. How then can they produce a king?
“We felt cheated by their inclusion in Elesun Chieftaincy Declarations and that was why we filed this petition. We have also appealed to the Supreme Court over the dismissal of our case by the Appeal Court”.