As the scrambling for the occupation of the vacant Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti stool gathers momentum, the Ekiti State government has directed the kingmakers to embrace Ifa consultation to produce an acceptable candidate.

The government ruled out voting by kingmakers to produce the candidate among the three aspirants shortlisted out of the eight contestants, describing voting as a fertile ground for bribery and manipulation, which the Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led administration detests and is strongly averse to.

The deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the directive in Ado-Ekiti while interacting with kingmakers, and other stakeholders from Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area over the ongoing process for the selection of a new Alara.

The government brokered the interaction, sequel to the outcome of selection process conducted on April 23, where Princes Femi Akinlabi, Adewumi Adetoyinbo and Tope Ademiluyi from Olokun ruling house, had emerged through Ifa divination out of eight contestants vying for the stool.

Subsequently, the 12 existing kingmakers had voted, where two of the aspirants: Tope Ademiluyi and Femi Akinlabi, got six votes apiece, thereby creating a tie that requires intervention to set a pace that will wriggle the town out of the conundrum for speedy emergence of a monarch.

The Alara stool became vacant, following the demise of Oba Olu Adeyemi from Arakale ruling house, on August 9, 2025.

Speaking during the interface, Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, said Governor Oyebanji was interested in ensuring that the kingmakers follow the due process of the law in selecting a new Alara, because of the historical significance of the community in the state and Yorubaland.

Afuye clarified that Ifa divination remains the standard practice and most respectable way of choosing a king in Yorubaland, saying the kingmakers should not embark on any action that could degrade tradition by taking sides or manipulate the process via underhand tactics.

She appealed to the community to embrace the proposal that Ifa oracle should be consulted, adding that this will help in checkmating any form of manipulation on account of actions being taken by some kingmakers.

She: “The instruction of the governor is that the government will midwife a process of selection through Ifa divination under a moderated atmosphere. There is no voting after the ifa consultation. Someone must surely emerge when Ifa is consulted. That has been the standard practice from time immemorial.

“All the insults on traditional and social media platforms won’t help anybody. There is no going to be any form of imposition. We are ready to do the right thing. The government has no candidate and that is where we stand.”

The Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Home Affairs, Mr Ojo Atibioke, debunked the rumour being peddled by some interested parties that the government had a vested interest in the matter, saying the right to select a new Alara remains the sole responsibility of the kingmakers.

Rather than castigating the government, Atibioke stated that he expected the community to be thankful to Governor Oyebanji-led government for midwifing a selection process that was free, fair and transparent, leading to the current situation.

A kingmaker and the Asao of Aramoko Ekiti, Chief Diran Adebayo, commended the government for the way the selection was done in line with traditions and customs of the town, saying the community will collaborate with government to make a success of the new proposal. (Nigerian Tribune)