The Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has officially approved the appointment of Prince Adebayo Adegbola as the new Eleruwa of Eruwa.
This announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
The Commissioner explained that, according to a document from the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, the Eleruwa throne had remained vacant following recent legal developments, particularly the dismissal of Suit No. HER/10/23 by the High Court of Oyo State on 22nd October 2024.
“In light of the circumstances surrounding the succession, I wish to remind everyone that the Laribikusi Ruling Quarters were unable to present candidates within the stipulated timeframe as outlined in Section 15(1) of the Chiefs Law Cap 28 of Oyo State,” Ojo stated.
“As a result, after careful consideration, the esteemed discretion of His Excellency enabled the Akalako Ruling House to be recognised as the next ruling quarters to nominate candidates,” the statement added.
According to the release, following a rigorous selection process, the kingmakers of Eruwa convened and unanimously chose Prince Adebayo Adegbola from the Akalako Ruling House as the sole candidate to occupy the vacant Eleruwa throne.
Oyelade noted that the last Eleruwa, Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, was installed in 1998 but was deposed on 29th November 2019 by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The Commissioner highlighted that with the appointment of Prince Adegbola, the Seyi Makinde-led administration has now coronated 11 Kings and 40 Baales, setting a record in the history of Yoruba traditional institutions.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ojo, used the occasion to urge all sons and daughters of Eruwa to embrace the new Eleruwa and celebrate his ascension to the throne, marking a new era of growth and prosperity for Eruwa after 22 years.