The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has appointed his hometown monarch, Onisan of Isan Kingdom, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon, as the Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Oba Adejuwon succeeds the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, who has completed his two-year tenure.
The new Ekiti Council of Obas chairman is to spend two years in office.
Recall that Onisan of Isan Ekiti and the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti were promoted to First class Monarchs two years ago by Governor Kayode Fayemi.
The action of the Governor then did not go down with the 17 foremost traditional rulers, otherwise known as the Pelupelu Obas.
The Obas dragged the State Government to Court over the appointment of then Alawe of Ilawe as the Chairman of the Council of Obas, claiming the appointment was against the tradition and extant rules which govern the appointment of the leader of the Council.
According to the 16 Pelupelu Obas, chairman of the Council should come from among them and since this has not been the case, they decided to stay away from the Council meetings and some government activities, which irked the government and resulted in the issuance of the query to them.
But then the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi came to Ekiti to settle the dispute between some prominent traditional rulers in the state and the state government.
The 17 Pelupelu Obas are comprised of the following: Ajero of Ijero, Alara of Aramoko, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Ogoga of Ikere, Olomuo of Omuo, Attah of Ayede, Oloye of Oye.
Others are Arinjale of Ise, Ologotun of Ogotun, Onitaji of Itaji, Elemure of Emure, Alaaye of Efon, Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Olojudo of Ido Faboro, Elekole of Ikole, Alawe of Ilawe and Onisan of Isan-Ekiti.