Sequel to the popular request of the Aisegba community in Ayekire Local Government, the Ekiti State Government, on Wednesday, ratified the appointment of a male regent, Chief Bodunde Eegunjobi, to occupy the vacant Apalufin stool for a period of six months.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the approval during a meeting with the stakeholders from the community to resolve the dissenting views of some high profile figures that a female regent should be enthroned against the Apalufin chieftaincy declarations.
Chief Eegunjobi, is the second-in-Command to Apalufin and the head of the kingmakers.
The stool became vacant following the demise of Oba Solomon Omotoyinbo in October 2025.
Addressing the stakeholders, Mrs Afuye, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, clarified that the ratification was in consonance with a letter written to the government by the Chairman of Ayekire Local Government, Hon Adeoye Adeyemi, detailing the outcome of a meeting held by the kingmakers, where the confirmation was done.
Mrs Afuye said another letter, which emanated from the Chairman of traditional Council in Ayekire Local Government and Olode of Ode Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adara Aderiye, endorsing the appointment of a female regent, flagrantly ran contrary to the provisions of the chieftaincy declarations of Aisegba Community.
Mrs Afuye said the chieftaincy declarations made under section 12P subsection 2 of the Ekiti State Chiefs Law regulating the appointment of the regent in the town, affirmed that the second -in -command in hierarchy should be installed, and not a female regent.
The Deputy Governor warned against unwarranted protest that could snowball into violence and bloodshed in the town, saying Governor Biodun Oyebanji has enormous desire for peace and stability in all Ekiti towns.
“Any town where they don’t want a male to be installed as their regent must amend their chieftaincy declarations and the process must involve the kingmakers, the town’s associations, local government officials and the reigning monarch of the town.
“Based on what was contained in the Apalufin chieftaincy declarations, a male regent was approved and he can only reign for six months during which a substantive king will be installed. I want to appeal to you to maintain peace, so that your king can be installed in record time.
“Go and read your chieftaincy declarations very well, there was no provision for a female regent and if you want such, it can only be granted after you have installed a new Apalufin.
“We want to plead with you, don’t go there and start staging any protest that can be hijacked by hoodlums to cause trouble. The governor doesn’t want that and whoever flouts the constitution will be made to face the full weight of the law”.
Also speaking on the matter that had elicited furore in the town, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon. Ojo Atibioke, advised them to align fully with the provisions of the chiefs law that gave approval for a male regent.
On the intervention of some monarchs from Ayekire traditional council in the matter, the commissioner was emphatic that only the concerned community has the prerogative to undertake actions on how their regent can emerge.
Atibioke added that the government of Ekiti State respects individual towns and their traditions, saying no step will be taken by the current administration to vitiate and abrade the process for the appointments of monarchs and regents in the state.
Speaking for the kingmakers, the Balemo of Aisegba Ekiti, Chief Awoleye Abegunde, shed light on how the kingmakers arrived at the choice of a male regent, saying they did so in firm alignment with the tradition, customs and practice of the community.
“We took that decision because we knew the tradition and we didn’t want to run foul of the law. The law was clear that only a male regent can take the throne when there is a vacuum in Aisegba Ekiti”.
But the President of Aisegba Progressive Union, Mr. Samuel Adebule, said the town had once had female regents after the reigns of Oba Daramola and Oba Olokesusi before the situation changed due to exigencies occasioned by fierce brawls among contenders.