Ekiti State Government has approved the upgrade of 40 traditional rulers in the State.
The State Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Hon. Akin Omole who made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, disclosed that the approval was part of the decisions taken at the valedictory meeting of the State Executive Council.
Stating that the approval was consequent upon the white paper on Justice Aladejana Chieftaincy Review Commission, 2019, he listed the Obas upgraded to Grade A+ as the Alare of Are and Onigede of Igede both in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State as well as the Olode of Ode in Gboyin LGA and Olukoro of Ikoro in Ijero LGA.
According to him, 21 Obas were upgraded to Grade A including the Onise of Odo-Oro in Ikole LGA, Alawo of Awo (Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA), Alayegunle of Ayegunle (Ijero LGA), Alayetoro of Ayetoro (Ido/Osi LGA) Elerio of Erio (Ekiti West LGA), Olohan of Erijiyan (Ekiti West LGA), Olufaki of Ifaki (Ido/Osi LGA), Onigbemo of Igbemo (Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA), Ojurin of Ijurin (Ijero LGA) and the Apeju of Ilupeju in Oye LGA)
Others are the Asaba of Isaba in Ikole LGA, Oniropora of Iropora (Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA), Owatapa of Itapa (Oye LGA), Alaworoko of Iworoko (Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA), Owa of Ayedun (Ikole LGA) Olowa of Odo-Owa (Ijero LGA), Olusi of Usi (Ido/Osi LGA), Owa of Egbe (Gboyin LGA), Onijan of Ijan (Gboyin LGA), Olowuro of Orun (Ise/Orun LGA), Olupole Ipole-Iloro (Ekiti West LGA).
The Commissioner highlighted Obas elevated to Grade B to include the Alaaye of Aaye in Ido/Osi, Olaja of Araromi- Oke (Ekiti East LGA), Alasin of Asin (Ikole LGA) Owa of Ayegbaju (Oye LGA), Olugbole of Igbole (Ido/Osi LGA) Onijesa of Ijesamodu (Ilejemeje LGA), Elejelu of Ijelu (Oye LGA), Onikoyi of Ikoyi (Ikole LGA), Onikun of Ikun-Oba (Ekiti East), Ajagun of Ilumoba (Gbonyin LGA), Oluroye of Iroko (Ijero LGA), Owajumu of Omu (Oye LGA), Olosin of Osin (Oye LGA), Elekota of Kota (Ekiti East LGA) and Olomuooke of Omuooke (Ekiti East LGA).
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 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.
Omole noted that the Apeju’s throne became vacant on July 21, 2021 following the demise of Oba Emmanuel Olaleye Oniyelu from 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.
