says plan to install female regent negates long-standing tradition

The Aba Atiba Chieftaincy family of Aramoko Ekiti has appealed to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Ekiti State governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, to intervene in the tussle over the choice of regent for the community following the demise of the Alara of Aramoko, Oba Olu Adeyemi.

The family condemned moves to install a female regent, insisting that such a decision runs contrary to the age-long custom of the town.

In a statement signed by Busuyi Ogunlana on behalf of the Aba Atiba family, the group maintained that the regent of Aramoko, pending the installation of a substantive king, must always emerge from the Aba Atiba lineage.

Ogunlana recalled that the late Alara, Adeyemi’s decision to name his daughter as regent was “capable of setting Aramoko on fire.”

He explained that in the past, tradition had been respected. “Aba Atiba was the regent for the late Oba Oluwole Amele and no one raised any issue then. Even when Oba Arasowole died, it was Chief Asasa who was named regent, and that was only because the position of Aba Atiba was vacant at the time,” he said.

“I have been a witness to history,” Ogunlana stressed. “Immediately Alara Oluwole Amele joined his ancestors, my father, Aba Atiba, was the first person to be called and was subsequently named regent after the rites of passage. I was there and partook in the rites. It is therefore a criminal attempt to stand tradition on its head and a slap on the cultural heritage of Aramoko to name a female as regent.”

He further noted that while some Yoruba towns adopt the practice of appointing the late king’s eldest daughter as regent, Aramoko has never followed such a custom.

“We are a unique town,” he said. “We don’t have female regents in Aramoko. Even people in their 40s here know this fact. Any attempt to change tradition for selfish reasons carries negative consequences.”

The family, he added, seeks only peace. “Our family is a strong custodian in this town. That is why we don’t want anyone or group of persons to set Aramoko on fire. We believe that sanity will prevail and the right thing will be done at the end of the day.”