By Udesinanna Stephen, Omachoko Grace
Some natives of Araromi in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State have called on Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Right Hon. Steven Aribasoye and other relevant authorities to prevail on the Deputy Governor of the State, Chief, Monisade Afuye who is in charge of traditional matters to disqualify one of the contestants for the throne of the community, Prince Babatunde Adebomi over alleged falsification of certificate.
The residents made the call during a peaceful Protest to the Ekiti State House of Assembly and Ministry of Chieftaincy Affair, where they submitted petition against the prince.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions bearing their minds and agitations.
Addressing journalists, a leader in the community, Mr. Olusola Aina who spoke on behalf of the Protesters said a letter obtained from the University of Ibadan showed that he prince was not a graduate of the university as claimed while management of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital confirmed in a letter that the prince who was their former staff absconded without any information
Mr Aina noted that It would be out of place to allow Prince Adebomi to become an Oba of the community despite his alleged involvement in such criminal activities.
He said “We are here to protest the alleged government’s decision to impose a suspected criminal as our Oba, we are rejecting it in totality, we are not following the Ifa pronunciation, when ifa gives us a criminal we will reject it.
“We have made our investigation, and we found out that he is not a graduate of the University of Ibadan as claimed and he absconded from the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital where he was working prior to a verification exercise.
“He worked at EKSUTH (Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital) as a physiotherapist, with a forged certificate, when they found out, he went into hiding only to resurface. We don’t want a king that the police will be running after for the forgery of NYSC certificate. If the government rejects forged certificates in the Civil Service why impose such person on us as Oba.
He affirmed that the police has been petitioned and the prince was invited but he did not show up.
When contacted on telephone, Prince Adebomi denied the allegations saying he had not submitted his certificate to government or any body in respect to the kingship matter wondering where the allegation of forged certificate came from.
He said the protesters were biased and trying to blackmail him because he was dully nominated by Ifa priest ahead of their candidates.