Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Monday presented Staff of Office and Certificate of Appointment to the new Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Samuel Adu, amid tight security.
The stool became vacant following the death of Oba Samuel Adegboye of the Akaiyejo ruling House on August 22, 2014.
The town had been embroiled in crisis over the selection of Adu from the Ogbenuote ruling House with some of the kingmakers claiming he is not from a royal family.
Adu contested with a renowned journalist with African Independent Television, Mr Gbenga Aruleba, among others.
Soldiers and riot policemen, very early in the morning were stationed in strategic positions in the town to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Adu’s choice was reaffirmed by 10 out of 14 kingmakers in the town at a meeting in the governor’s office on Saturday.
The governor had after the meeting promised to install the new Ogoga within 14 days.
Presenting the instruments to the new king, Fayose said the government strictly followed due process in arriving at Adu’s choice.
He said, “This presentation comes up today after painstakingly considering all that were necessary to be done. I have severally called the stakeholders together to discuss the issue, particularly the crisis the selection of Prince Adu had generated.
“I will rather prefer to do those things that would add value to Ikere Ekiti, the second largest town in the State, rather than doing those things that would promote crisis or add to the people’s burdens.
“I want to state here that I have no candidate in the selection. The moment there is election, one person must surely win. But this is not the end of the whole journey, whoever feels aggrieved can go to court to seek redress.”
Fayose explained that he won at the Tribunal, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court which eventually washed him clean of the stigma of impeachment he carried for over eight years.
“Just like my case in the governorship election, after winning the governorship election, my opponent congratulated me and later went to court, where I was pronounced the authentic governor. So, going to court may even be a blessing in disguise,” he added.
The governor, however, urged the new monarch to be magnanimous in victory, advising him to reach out to the aggrieved parties for lasting peace in the town and for his reign to be blissful.
“Don’t see your opponents as enemies. I want you to reach out to them. It is from this rare show of humility that God will elevate you. But I want to believe that if what we are doing today is of God, it will stand the test of time,” Fayose said.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Adu lamented the fierce battle that had always accompanied ascendancy onto traditional thrones in Yoruba land in recent time, describing the scenario as very unfortunate.
“Let me commend the kingmakers for their thoroughness and transparency in the selection process. This will make the process of reconciliation very easy.
“I want to say sincerely that I am committed to the service of Ikere community. I will pursue the unity of the town with sincere heart because I know that there can’t be progress where there is no unity,” the new monarch said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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