The Ekiti State government has invalidated the process leading to the installation of Taiwo Oladimeji as the regent of Emure-Ekiti in the Emure Local Government Area of the state.

The Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, announced the decision at a meeting with major stakeholders from the community in her office in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.

Ms Afuye said that the process through which the regent ascended the throne was fraught with irregularities and lacked the requisite approval from the state government.

Ms Oladimeji was installed as regent, sequel to the demise of Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, on May 30.

The deputy governor bemoaned the flouting of the State Chiefs’ Law by the community through their refusal to seek the government’s approval before proceeding with the installation.

“Such illegality cannot stand in the face of the law,” she said.

Ms Afuye, however, stated that the state government was neither planning to impose nor foist anyone on the community as regent.

She said that the already-installed person could still be represented for the stool in strict compliance with the law.

She said, “Let me emphasise here that you have no regent yet. Why did you have to rush into taking such a step without consulting the government? Why didn’t you seek the government’s approval? What you have, as far as we are concerned, is an illegal regent.

“We are not here to impose anyone on you; you are free to take whatever step suits you, but we are emphasising the need for you to comply with the state chiefs’ law. So, go back home and do what you are supposed to do so that the government can give the regent the required recognition, because the one you have installed has no government approval.’’

Ms Afuye also debunked the insinuations that she was making moves to impose one Toyin Ojo, the Olisa of Emure-Ekiti and second-in-command to the Elemure, as the regent.

She described the insinuations as spurious and unfounded.

On the delay in the payment of April, May and June stipends to the traditional chiefs, she directed the chairman of the traditional council, Oluwatosin Adedayo, to rectify the errors and pay with immediate effect.

Ms Afuye directed the Emure Local Government Chairman, the Head of Local Government Administration, and the Director of Finance to act as signatories to the traditional council’s accounts, pending the time a recognised regent would be enthroned.

In her remarks, the lawmaker representing Emure constituency in the state House of Assembly, Maryam Ogunlade, applauded the government for resolving the logjam in the payment of stipends and the installation of the regent.

Ms Ogunlade assured that the stakeholders would meet, fine tune arrangements and straighten rough edges to avert unnecessary uproar that could jeopardise the peace and stability being experienced under the current government.

Other dignitaries at the meeting included the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Ojo Atobioke; the Chairman of Emure Local Government Council, Oluwatosin Adedayo, and the Permanent Secretary in the office of the Deputy Governor, Abayomi Opeyemi.

Others were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Olabisi Akindele, a former lawmaker representing Emure constituency, Febisola Adewale, kingmakers, traditional chiefs, as well as princes and princesses. 

(NAN)