Tensions are escalating between the Laribikusi and Akalako ruling houses in Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State, as they vie for control over the next Eleruwa.

The Laribikusi Ruling House has firmly stated that there was no deadline for presenting a family head, a crucial step in the succession process.

The declaration came during the formal presentation of their family head, Pa Dejo Akinlade, in a letter delivered to the local government, Kareem Arogungade, on Monday.

The letter was received by the chairman?s Personal Assistant, Lukman Akintola, who acknowledged the family?s submission.

In the document, Pa Akinlade vehemently rejected claims circulating in some quarters regarding a supposed deadline for presenting the family head, emphasising that the Laribikusi family has met all necessary conditions outlined in the 1957 Eruwa Chieftaincy Declaration.

?The appointment of the Family Head is a prerequisite for moving forward. Once the Family Head is appointed, this letter will be sent to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for approval.

?Following this, we will be instructed to submit names of candidates for the position of Eleruwa,? Pa Akinlade declared.

The process, according to Pa Akinlade, involved the Family Head convening an enlarged meeting of the family to select candidates for the throne.

He expressed surprise and confusion regarding the focus on the family head?s appointment at this juncture, noting that discussions about a 14-day ultimatum are premature.

?The issue of the 14 days can only arise after the selection of the Family Head. It is perplexing that we are discussing the Family Head?s role when the family has not even submitted a name,? he clarified.

The Laribikusi family is one of two ruling houses entitled to the throne, alongside the Akalako family, as specified in the chieftaincy declaration.

The recent dethronement of the immediate-past Eleruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, by a Supreme Court ruling in 2019, has further complicated the situation, as both families vie for the opportunity to install a new monarch.

In a related statement, Prince Ijaola Adeseun, Secretary of the Laribikusi family, addressed rumours regarding the alleged expiration of a 14-day ultimatum for presenting the family head.

He refuted these claims, clarifying that the chairman of the local government has scheduled another meeting for January 16, 2025, aimed at promoting transparency in the appointment process.

The Laribikusi family has formally appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure that the selection process for the new Eleruwa is conducted transparently and fairly, hoping to quell the rising tensions and ensure a smooth transition of power. (Vanguard)