Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has upgraded about 40 traditional rulers in the State, Newsflash Nigeria learnt.
Fayemi made this known in a statement released by State Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Akin Omole.
The governor said the decisions to upgrade 40 monarchs were consequent upon the white paper on Justice Aladejana Chieftaincy Review Commission, 2019 and also approved by State Executive Council.
He listed the Obas upgraded to Grade A+:
- The Alare of Are Ekiti (Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area);
- The Onigede of Igede Ekiti (Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area);
- The Olode of Ode in Gboyin LGA and
- The Olukoro of Ikoro in Ijero LGA.
21 Obas were upgraded to Grade A including:
- The Onise of Odo-Oro in Ikole LGA;
- The Alawo of Awo (Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA);
- The Alayegunle of Ayegunle (Ijero LGA);
- The Alayetoro of Ayetoro (Ido/Osi LGA);
- The Elerio of Erio (Ekiti West LGA);
- The Olohan of Erijiyan (Ekiti West LGA);
- The Olufaki of Ifaki (Ido/Osi LGA);
- The Onigbemo of Igbemo (Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA);
- The Ojurin of Ijurin (Ijero LGA);
- The Apeju of Ilupeju in Oye LGA);
- The Asaba of Isaba in Ikole LGA;
- The Oniropora of Iropora (Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA);
- The Owatapa of Itapa (Oye LGA);
- The Alaworoko of Iworoko (Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA);
- The Owa of Ayedun (Ikole LGA);
- The Olowa of Odo-Owa (Ijero LGA);
- The Olusi of Usi (Ido/Osi LGA);
- The Owa of Egbe (Gboyin LGA);
- The Onijan of Ijan (Gboyin LGA);
- The Olowuro of Orun (Ise/Orun LGA);
- The Olupole Ipole-Iloro (Ekiti West LGA).
The Commissioner highlighted Obas elevated to Grade B to include:
- The Alaaye of Aaye in Ido/Osi;
- The Olaja of Araromi- Oke (Ekiti East LGA);
- The Alasin of Asin (Ikole LGA);
- The Owa of Ayegbaju (Oye LGA);
- The Olugbole of Igbole (Ido/Osi LGA);
- The Onijesa of Ijesamodu (Ilejemeje LGA);
- The Elejelu of Ijelu (Oye LGA);
- The Onikoyi of Ikoyi (Ikole LGA);
- Onikun of Ikun-Oba (Ekiti East);
- The Ajagun of Ilumoba (Gbonyin LGA);
- The Oluroye of Iroko (Ijero LGA);
- The Owajumu of Omu (Oye LGA);
- The Olosin of Osin (Oye LGA);
- The Elekota of Kota (Ekiti East LGA) and
- The Olomuooke of Omuooke (Ekiti East LGA).
Mr Omole stated that the State Executive Council also approved the appointment of Prince David Sunday Awe Akingbade from the Akingbade Ruling House as the new Apeju of Ilupeju Ekiti in the Oye Local Government Area.
He stressed that the decision to authorize the appointment was taken after ascertaining that all required customary and legal steps had been taken to choose the new traditional rulers.
Mr Omole noted that the Apeju’s throne became vacant on July 21, 2021, following the demise of Oba Emmanuel Olaleye Oniyelu from the Ruling House.
He emphasized that the ratification of the appointments was made after clearance from the Ministry of Justice adding that the Council also authorized the publication of legal notices of the appointment in the State official gazette.
