Govt urges peace over Oluyin stool

The Ekiti State government has appealed to the people of Iyin Ekiti, to toe the line of peace and work for the development of the town as it concerns the Oluyin stool. The state’s deputy governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, who made the appeal at a meeting he held with contestants and kingmakers yesterday, urged all interest groups in the kingship race to come together in the interest of the town.

The peace meeting was summoned following petitions by some aggrieved contestants against the election of the new monarch conducted on July 23 and supervised by the officials of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government and Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs.

In a bid to establish the truth, at the peace meeting yesterday, Egbeyemi, asked the kingmakers to indicate the candidates each of them voted for in the July 23 election to choose the new Oluyin.

According to him, he took the action to clear the air and lay all doubts to rest and for each contestant to know that government did not influence the election of the new Oluyin.

While six of them indicated that they voted for Ajakaye who emerged winner, other three said they voted for Prince Rotimi Owolabi while the remaining three voted for Prof Emmanuel Falodun.

The kingmakers led by the Odofinyin of Iyin Ekiti, Chief Ayodeji Esan, affirmed that they were not influenced from any quarter in voting for the candidates of their choice, saying they freely exercised their will in the best interest of their community.

A total number of eight contestants vied for the Oluyin stool with twelve kingmakers and warrant chiefs participating in the election.

Egbeyemi, stressed that the kingmakers voted for candidates of their choice according to their consciences before arriving at the choice of the new Oluyin.

He called on the Iyin people not to allow the choice of a new traditional ruler to divide them urging the contestants who lost in the process to accept the result in good faith.