The Selection Of Eleruwa Is Fair, Stakeholder Warn Community To Avoid Distractions, Mischief Makers

In a move to dispel rumours of controversy over the selection process of Eleruwa, Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, the ruling house has disclosed that there’s no controversy in the legally constituted process which produced the monarch.

The ruling house described the choice of Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola as a new dawn, the wish of God, kingmakers and the people of Eruwa.

The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, 6th March 2025 presented the staff of office and instruments of appointment to the new Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, at a presentation ceremony which took place at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan.

Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola ascension to the throne came after Eruwa remained without a monarch for over five years, following his removal in 2019 by a Supreme Court ruling.

Addressing newsmen on Thursday, the head of the Olurin family of Akalako ruling house, Chief Pade Babalola disclosed this, lauding the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde for his exceptional leadership qualities, with the rejuvenation of the traditional institutions in the state.

Chief Pade Babalola in his statement confirmed that the town is relatively peaceful as usual, said some people have chosen to be misleading the public with malicious media updates.

“For reasons best known to some individuals, they have bastardized, abused the values of our respected custom and tradition, suffocated the system with different forms of litigation, and less bothered with the growth of the town. There’s a need to respect and propagate our cultural values, custom and traditions.

“Some people may not know how the whole thing started, I wish to State categorically that the Olaribikusi ruling house started it, when they initiated a legal battle against themselves, a house divided against itself cannot stand. It was the internal wrangling which they could not manage that produced the free, fair selection of Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola.

“As stipulated in the chieftaincy law, the need to transfer the throne to the next ruling house, Akalako emerged, where Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola emerged as he was nominated by the Olurin Royal family of the Akalako ruling house, amongst 18 princes who submitted their nominations. Hence, the decision of the Oyo State Government has quoted the relevant sections of the chieftaincy administration law which empower the Governor the discretionary right and sole authority to act as he did.

It is this protracted delay added to the previous legal delays which convinced the OYSG that Olaribikusi ruling house was unable to follow through on the candidate selection process, hence the transfer of the throne to the next ruling house, Akalako, where Oba Samuel Adegbola emerged as he was nominated by the Olurin Royal family of Akalako the Akalako ruling house, and selected among the 18 princes who submitted their nominations. Even for this decision, the Oyo State Government has quoted the relevant sections of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Administration Law, which empowered the Governor as he did.

“It should also be noted that when Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola was removed initially, following the Supreme Court judgement, he was given only what he was entitled to as his outstanding emoluments, which was calculated by various ministries and departments of the government, no more or less, therefore, anyone who is insinuating otherwise is nothing but a mischievous person.

“As we prepare for the coronation, we should not be carried away by the jobless, malicious and mischief makers, who are feeding the public with wrong information to antagonize the lawful process which produced Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, Ajobo Olurin I,” he added.