Ekiti monarch honours Oyebanji, Bamidele with chieftaincy titles

The Alaaye of Efon Kingdom, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare. CREDIT: The Alaaye of Efon Kingdom, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare

The Alaaye of Efon Kingdom, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare, has announced the conferment of chieftaincy titles on Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.

Oba Aladejare, who spoke at Efon Alaaye on Saturday during the grand finale of the 43rd Efon Alaaye Day, said Oyebanji and Bamidele were honoured in appreciation of their contributions to the development of the community.

The monarch said, “All the honours and awards given either under the seal of Efon Alaaye Development League or by the Alaaye in form of chieftaincies and recent admission to the Efon Alaaye Hall of Fame and Roll of Honours represent the pinnacle of our Kingdom’s spirit.

“They are designed to serve as a testament that in this land, service is never forgotten, excellence and dedication are always celebrated.

“The Alaaye-in-Council recently conferred honorary chieftaincy titles on two eminent Nigerians for their valued contributions to the development of this land; the two are our sons, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who had been pronounced conferred with the title of Bashorun Ataiyese of Efon Kingdom, while the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, also bagged the honorary chieftaincy title of Okanlomo Atunluse of Efon Kingdom.

“The two new Efon Alaaye chiefs are to be formally adorned with their respective titles as situation permits soonest. Plans are also afoot to confer some eminent citizens with other prestigious honorary chieftaincies at the soonest convenient time.”

The traditional ruler, who appreciated sons and daughters of the community for gracing the occasion, expressed joy that Efon Day, which started on August 24, 1984, as a thanksgiving service, had since become a celebration of culture and reflection.

Oba Aladejare praised contributors to the Palace Renovation Project, saying the funds contributed had exceeded N100m under the leadership of Chief Patrick Akinboye Ojo.

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Among other activities, the 2026 Efon Day featured youth educational and sporting activities, traditional games, a free medical outreach, the Miss Efon Alaaye beauty pageant and an awards programme.

The President-General of EDL, Olumuyiwa Aiyegbusi, appealed to indigenes to join hands to develop the kingdom in the areas of good governance, education, commerce and industrialisation.

Aiyegbusi called on investors to take advantage of Efon’s climate, peaceful environment and mountain scenery for tourism, hotels and holiday homes.

The EDL Vice-President 1 and Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Mr Kolawole Ajumobi, in his welcome address, thanked members of the committee, branch executives and diaspora members for their sacrifices and donations despite economic challenges.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of Efon Local Government, Segun Afolabi, lauded the peace and unity in the council, the League and the traditional institution.

The council chairman, who reeled out his administration’s achievements, added that “the state government is encouraging private sector participation in water and power supply, with two investors currently bidding,” as he urged residents to acquire prepaid meters at a subsidised rate.

He said, “Work on Erekesan Market is temporarily suspended but will soon resume, while the Alaaye Palace reconstruction has reached an advanced stage, courtesy of a take-off grant from Governor Oyebanji.”