For the first time in history, and which was principally based on the request of the stakeholders, the Ekiti State Government, on Friday, formally granted the request of Aramoko Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government to begin the practice of installing a female Regent to temporarily fill the vacant Alara stool.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, announced this, on Friday, in Aramoko Ekiti, while interacting with stakeholders over the controversy surrounding the attempt to install a female Regent, which deviates from the longstanding practice.
The stool became vacant, following the demise of Oba Olu Adegoke Adeyemi, from Arakale Ruling House, on August 9, 2025.
Based on the request letter forwarded to the government and signed by the deceased monarch, Oba Adeyemi and other stakeholders on April 23, 2015, the town contended that the practice, by which a male Chief adorned in royal regalia, with beaded crown will be sitting on Alara’s Stool, was strange to Yoruba culture.
Addressing the stakeholders at an extended meeting convened to settle the logjam, Mrs Afuye, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, said the approval was in stringent alignment with the new Alara Chieftaincy Declarations 2015, which was approved and gazetted by government.
Mrs Afuye added that a change in the traditional practice, was undertook at the behest of the community, who spearheaded the move through the last Alara and was adopted by the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, considered by the State Executive Council and duly approved by government.
Harping on the need for unity and peace in the town, Mrs Afuye, insisted that the community, with rich culture and history, must strictly adhere to the new Chieftaincy Declarations, that stipulated that the appointment of a female Regent should be embraced.
She assured that the government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji won’t forcefully impose anyone as a king or regent, but would not also bend the law to favour anyone in the installation of traditional ruler.
“This new Alara Chieftaincy Declarations was done to avert crisis in this town. Not even your governor can change your declarations. Only a substantive king and stakeholders can change it.
” With what we have read out to all of you in the new chieftaincy declarations, you can now install a female child of the immediate past king as the Regent to serve for a period of three to six months as the first option. If you can’t get this, you can pick from his ruling house.
“It wasn’t even the late King that did it, but the entire town. I learnt the last male occupant installed into the position nearly divided the town and that accounted for why you agreed that a female Regent will be the first option.
“The meeting where the decision was taken was a well attended one. All the chiefs were there. The Representatives of the ruling Houses were there and other illustrious indigenes. The letter to the government was duly signed by all the required parties.
“Now that you have all agreed to this new order, because nothing lasts forever, the government will soon announce the name of your preferred candidate as the female Regent when you forward to us”.
Saluting the government for being proactive to nip the crisis in the bud, the Second- in -Command to Alara, Chief Diran Adebayo, commended the deputy Governor for going into the nitty-gritty of the issue, by tracing the trajectory of how the declaration was done.
Chief Adebayo applauded the government’s impartiality and urged all the indigenes of Aramoko Ekiti to abide by the new approval.
At the parley, Prince Olufemi Aladeloye represented Olokun Ruling House, Prince Olusola Samuel stood in for Agbagba Royal Dynasty, while Prince Samuel Adefioye Adeuyi represented Arakale Royal lineage.
Speaking for the Ruling Houses, Prince Olu Aladeloye, said they totally agree with the review and adoption of female Regent in their traditional practice.
“What the government approved for us meets our yearnings and we are all happy. If they divide this town into ten portions, I know that over nine and half portions agreed with this option of a female Regent”.
A member of the House of Assembly, representing Ekiti West Constituency 1, Hon. Karim Agunbiade, posited that the step taken by government signposted that Governor Oyebanji’s administration was proactive and proficient in crisis management.
“This government has not disappointed us. We thank God that we have a governor and deputy that are very effective. If not for this intervention, nobody knows what would have happended. We appreciate this timely approval and intervention”.
Dignitaries at the peace parley include: the Chairman of Ekiti West Local Government, Hon Moses Omojola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Mrs Olabisi Akindele , her colleague in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi, over 40 chiefs, representatives of the three Ruling Houses, among others