The frenzy of joy and excitement over the installation of His Royal Majesty Oba David Adekunle Olaniyan as the 32nd Elekan of Ekan Kingdom in the Oke Ero Local Government of Kwara State continued over the weekend as prominent members of the community, Royal Houses, Compound Heads and Community leaders congratulated and paid homage to the new Royal father
The State government on Thursday 4th of January 2024, presented a 2nd Class letters of appointment and Staff of Office to His Royal Highness Oba OLANIYAN David ADEKUNLE as ELEKAN OF EKAN LAND from Oke-Ero Local Government Council at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development.
The Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr Kayode Alabi who was represented at the presentation ceremony by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Hon Abubakar Abdullahi Bata congratulated the newly appointed Monarchs on their well-deserved appointments
HISTORY OF EKAN
Ekan is the headquarters of the seven communities that formed the Ekan Meje Kingdom in the present day Oke Ero Local Government of Kwara State in the North Central geo-political zone of Nigeria.
The remaining communities in the kingdom are Aaye Ekan (now Ayedun), Ilale, Imoji, Erinmope, Ajure and Ipetu.
Ekan is last town in the south of Kwara State and shares boundary with Otun, Erimope, Osan (in Ekiti State) and Ora Igbomina (in Osun State.)
With a population of over two million people, EKAN is made up 15 Compounds, divided into three Districts.
According to legend, the people of Ekan led by the first Elekan, a direct descendant of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba, migrated from Ile-Ife to the present location several centuries ago.
Oba Olaniyan is the 32nd Oba in the town and there had been 16 Baales before the first Oba.
In fact, Ekan was never conquered by any community or subjugated under any kingdom of old.
Equally, Reverend Samuel Johnson in his book: The History of the Yorubas stated on Page 435 that the “people of Ekan were very powerful and hunters sharp shooters as such successfully defended their chiefdom against the notorious Ibadan warriors during the Jalumi war of 1878.”
In fact, during the war, the Oke Okin compound, because of their warlike traits, was moved from the initial abode at Ile Obajemu to the present site to form the Northern garrison to protect the community from the invading enemy.
History also records that the Elekan lives in the most ancient palace in the whole of Ekitiland of Kwara State.
This palace, according to sources in the community was built more than 500 years ago by the whole of Ekan Meje communities.
The Elekan has also been a prominent Oba among Ekiti crowned Obas in the entire Yorubaland. This fact was upheld by the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, during the Ekundayo chieftaincy panel in 1978, when he confirmed that the crown wore by Elekan was the original, ancient crown from Ile Ife.
Also in 1926, the Elekan became the District Head of of Ekan Meje Community.
This is attested to by Honourable Hermon-Hodges, the gazetter of Ilorin Province in his publication of 1929.
According to him, Elekan was made the presiding Judge in Ekiti Native Court.
And as perks of office then, the Elekan had one scribe, two messengers and an official rest house. In 1934, the then Elekan, Oba Atewogbade was on a salary of ten shillings per month, which was the highest salary by any Oba in Ekiti at that time.
