Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Thursday, installed the new Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ajiboye, urged aggrieved contenders to refrain from embarking on frivolous and tortuous judicial processes to truncate the enthronement of a monarch duly appointed by government in Ekiti communities.
The Ekiti governor, said uniting with a new king always fasttrack development and foster peace in a community, than to get enmeshed in court actions that could stoke divisions and bad blood.
Governor Oyebanji gave the warning in Emure Ekiti, while presenting the instrument of Appointment and Staff of Office to the new royal father in the community.
The new monarch, a retired Customs Officer, hails from Abenimota Royal Dynasty, one of the longstanding Ruling Houses in Emure Ekiti.
The First Class Royal stool became vacant, following the demise of Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, a retired Commissioner of Police, on May 30, 2024.
Addressing the community, Oyebanji, who spoke via the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, maintained that the governor neither interfered in the selection process, nor imposed any candidate on the town.
Defending the government’s actions, he stoutly clarified that the approval of the new Elemure was undertaken in accordance with the customs and traditions of the kingdom.
The governor added that his government decided to rev up actions on the installation of a new monarch in the town to present a leader, who can effectively collaborate with his administration to halt occasional cases of kidnapping and banditry along Emure-Eporo-Emure Ile axis.
Governor Oyebanji described Elemure as a first class royal stool in Ekiti and respectable kingdom, with vast and rich culture, that require respect and stability, making it expedient for the aggrieved parties to coalesce efforts with the monarch to develop the town.
“The money that you are supposed to spend on development, don’t use it to hire any Lawyer to challenge a process that was done with openness or to derail what we have legitimately done .
“The governor and other government officials, including myself didn’t show interest in who becomes the Elemure. The government approved whom the kingmakers presented as the preferred candidate.
“I want to appeal to those having cases in court to withdraw them and join hands with our Royal Father to develop this town. The development, peace and unity of this kingdom and its respect should be paramount to all of you, not the removal of a monarch”.
Governor Oyebanji promised to work with the new Elemure to bring development to Emure axis and tackle the challenges of insecurity confronting the town and environs.
The Commissioner for chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Hon. Ojo Atibioke, commended Governor Oyebanji for being steadfast in his commitment to fill any vacant stool in the state within a spate of two years.
Atibioke, who urged the monarch to always consult widely with his subjects before taking critical decisions, described the process leading to the emergence of the monarch as transparent and devoid of imposition.
Atibioke commended the town for appointing a new king without any bad blood and rancour, saying this further testified to the fact that Emure people are united and development- driven.
“You may not know the import of what you are doing today, some towns have not been able to fill such vacancies for a period of 25 years. This showed that you are united. I want all of you to cooperate with the Rotal Majesty for his reign to bring successes and blessings to his domain”.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Ajiboye, saluted the state government and the kingmakers for being painstaking and transparent in the selection process, assuring that he will work assiduously to attract laudable projects to the town.
Oba Ajiboye promised to work zealously to unite all the warring factions in the town and form a strong synergy with the government to tackle the menace of insecurity in the axis.
“It is my appeal to my brothers who contested against me to join me in the task of developing this town. We have no other town to call ours. I am focused in my passion for development. I won’t be distracted and we shall get to the promised land”.