Three out of the four contestants in the race to become the Alararomi of Araromi-Ekiti in Ijero local government have kicked against the decision of Ekiti State Government ordering the installation of Adebomi Babalola as the King of the town.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye had on Thursday, November 23, 2023 ordered the kingmakers in Araromi-Ekiti to submit the name of one of the contestants, Adebomi Babalola in preparation for his installation as the King, stating that the need to allow the Kingmakers to sit and deliberate on Ifa divination process and select a viable candidate as stated in declaration of Obaship is not necessary.
Reacting to the position of the Deputy Governor in Ado-Ekiti, the three aggrieved contestants, Princes Adediran Lawrence Fatoye, Ademola Afolayan and Sunday Babalola expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the Deputy Governor by recognising Adebomi Babalola, which is a clear case of coercing and intimidating the Kingmakers to do her bidding.
According to them, nobody has emerged as a King-elect, because the selection process had not been completed, according to the Araromi chieftency declaration.
They made it clear that the Kingmakers had written several letters to government that they have not selected anyone to become the King.
“After the consultation of ifa oracle, there should be election by the Kingmakers, in accordance with Araromi Chieftency declaration. But they wanted to jump the gun, because they knew that their preferred candidate is not popular”.
The aggrieved contestants said they were only expecting the Deputy Governor to order investigation into the purported ifa consultation, rather than supporting one of the candidates.
Princes Adediran Lawrence Fatoye, Ademola Afolayan and Sunday Babalola described the decision as a way of imposing Adebomi on them with the support of Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adebayo Adewole.
“We see the decision of the Deputy Governor that the government will go ahead to install him as Alararomi of Araromi-Ekiti as a way of imposing him on us, we are not satisfied with it”.
“We know that the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti is one of those working to manipulate the process in favour of their preferred candidate, he should stay clear of the selection of Alararomi because Araromi is a town on its own which should enjoy freedom without interference from any King outside the town”.
They however called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji to wade into the matter in the interest of equity, justice and fairness.
The three aggrieved contenders into the stool of Alararomi of Araromi-Ekiti in Ijero local government asked that the Governor should order a fresh process to elect a new king in the town.
“We do not agree with the ifa consultation held on February 18, 2023 which produced Adebomi Babalola, it was manipulated in his favour and we don’t want it, another process should be odered”.
“The Kingmakers are ready and willing to conclude the process before government’s imposition, the Kingmakers can only be disbanded if they fail in performing their duties as conferred on them” They said.
