Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has approved the appointment of Prince Adebayo Adegbola as the new Eleruwa of Eruwaland.
Prince Dotun Oyelade, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, revealed this in a press statement he released on Tuesday, March 4, 2024.
It would be recalled that the Eleruwa stool has remained vacant since November 2019, the the Supreme Court dethroned Oba Adegbola.
The ruling found that his ascension was inconsistent with the 1957 Eruwa Chieftancy Declaration, thereby ending his 21-year reign. This decision left the community in a state of uncertainty and opened the door for renewed debate over traditional leadership in Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In the statement released by the government, the commissioner said according to a document by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Ademola Ojo, the stool of Eleruwa had remained vacant, following recent legal proceedings, specifically the dismissal of Suit No. HER/10/23 by the High Court of Oyo State on October 22, 2024.
The statement stated, “In response to the circumstances surrounding the succession, I would like to remind everyone that the Laribikusi Ruling Quarters were unable to submit candidates within the stipulated timeframe as stipulated in Section 15(1) of the Chiefs Law Cap 28 of Oyo State.
“Consequently, after due consideration, the esteemed discretion of His Excellency facilitated the Akalako Ruling House to be recognised as the next ruling quarters to nominate candidates.”
According to the release, after a thorough selection process, the kingmakers of Eruwa convened and unanimously selected Prince Adegbola from the Akalako Ruling House as the sole candidate to fill the vacant stool of Eruwa.
Prince oyelade said the last Eleruwa, Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, was installed in 1998, but deposed on the 29th November, 2019 by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The commissioner noted that with the emergence of Prince Adegbola, the Makinde-led administration had now coronated 11 obas and 40 baales “which is a record in the history of yoruba traditional institution.”
Ojo said he seized this occasion to call on all Eruwa sons and daughters to welcome the new Eleruwa and celebrate his ascension to the throne for the growth and prosperity of Eruwaland after 22 years.
