The people of Eruwa, in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo state, have initiated the process for selecting a new Eleruwa of Eruwaland.
According to westernmirror.com.ng reports, this move aligns with the provisions of the 1957 Eruwa Chieftaincy Declaration, following the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2019 that led to the removal of Oba Samuel Adegbola.
In compliance with the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration, the Labirikusi Ruling House has resolved its internal disputes by appointing Chief Dejo Akinlade as the head of the family.
The decision was reached during an expanded meeting of the Laribikusi royal House comprising four families, namely, Agbaragba, Ajao, Omoni, and Sabi.
The well-attended expanded meeting of the Laribikusi royal House was held on Friday, January 11, at Oke-Oba, in Eruwa.
Following the resolution reached at the meeting, Chief Akinlade will lead a delegation from the ruling house to the Executive Chairman of Ibarapa East Local Government, Hon. Kazeem Owolabi Arogundad, on Monday, January 13, to officially communicate the family’s resolution to him.
It was gathered that the council chairman had earlier issued letters to the four royal families within the Labirikusi Ruling House, requesting the nomination of a leader in accordance with the Chieftaincy Declaration.
This led to the unanimous selection of Chief Akinlade as the representative to spearhead the process of selecting the new monarch; the Eleruwa of Eruwaland.
In his brief remarks shortly after he was officially presented to the expanded Laribikusi royal House, Chief Akinlade expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by his family.
He appealed for unity among members of the ruling house to prevent external forces from exploiting perceived divisions.
“My appeal goes to our people to put the past behind them and forge a common front. We should not allow others to capitalize on our differences to rob us of our rights. It is the turn of the Labirikusi Ruling House to produce the next Eleruwa of Eruwaland,” he said.
He further emphasized that the chieftaincy declaration recognizes two ruling houses—Labirikusi and Akalako—with the throne alternating between them. “The immediate past Eleruwa was from the Akalako Ruling House. It is now the turn of the Labirikusi Ruling House,” he added.
Chief Akinlade announced plans to formally communicate the outcome of their meeting to the council chairman, with the expectation that the letter will be forwarded to the Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to initiate the selection process.
A widely respected nonagenarian from the Akalako Ruling House, Pa Oyebimpe Moses, confirmed to newsmen that the Akalako family had produced the Eleruwa eight times ahead of the Laribikusi royal House with only five. He urged the authorities to adhere to the 1957 chieftaincy declaration in selecting the new monarch.
Pa Oyebimpe also called on members of the Akalako Ruling House, reportedly planning to present a candidate for the vacant stool, to reconsider their actions in the interest of the town’s peace, prosperity,y, and progress.
“The rules are clear. It is the turn of the Labirikusi Ruling House to present the new king,” he emphasized.
Other members of the Laribikusi Royal House, including Prince ADEJUMO Mukaila, Pa SALAU Raimi, Pa OJUOLAPE Lamidi, Dr OKUNLOLA Ibrahim, and others expressed satisfaction with the development while expressing optimism that relevant authorities will expedite action on the process of selecting a new Eleruwa for Eruwaland.
