The Ogunmegbokanle Ruling House of Osi-Ekiti in the Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State has called on the state government to officially recognize the family as one of the bonafide ruling houses entitled to the throne of Olosi of Osi.
The request of the family is contained in a letter addressed to the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, through their solicitors, Morakinyo Ogele and Co.
According to the family, the renewed call for inclusion as one of the Osi-Ekiti Ruling Houses is necessitated by the alleged injustice unleased on the Ogunmegbokanle Ruling House dating back to history.
They decried that since the reign of Ogunmegbokanle, who was the foremost Olosi of Osi Ekiti, none of his descendants have been allowed to ascend the throne of their forefathers.
They called on the state government to add or insert Ogunmegbokanle into the existing ruling houses in Osi-Ekiti and, if possible, “permit them to provide a candidate for the ongoing selection process since the current oba elected and his family are yet to resolve their differences.”
They noted that “if the stalemate now in Osi is still persisting or insisting, the government should solve the problem by inviting our client’s Ruling House to present a candidate for the kingmakers to become Olosi of Osi.”
The letter reads, “From the established information, both from the indigenes of Osi and from an external source, Ogunmegbokanle left Ile-Ife sometime in 1240 AD, together with his siblings and associates, history revealed, although he made a brief sojourn at various towns in Ekiti.
“It is further revealed that Ogunmegbokanle left Ife for an unknown destination as a result of the denial and betrayal of his elder brother; hence, he left Ife to establish his own kingdom.
“During his journey from Ile-Ife, he moved along with other siblings to locate his new place of abode, which is Osi-Ekiti.
“Ogunmegbokanle equally carried all paraphernalia of the office of a king, including crown, beads and others, which they said had been confirmed by records from the Ooni of Ife
“When they migrated from Ile-Ife, their port of call was Ifewara, where Olukoronfo was made king by his loyalists who migrated with him from Ile-Ife.
“Still, our Ogunmegbokanle was on his match as he left Olukoronfo at Osi-Sooko.
“On his journey, he followed the instruction of Apariko, Oracle and proceeded to Efon-Alaye, from there to Ogotun-Ekiti; thereafter, they left Ogotun-Ekiti for Igbara Odo-Ekiti on the instruction of Apariko Oracle, from where they proceeded to Ilawe-Ekiti, still on the instruction of Apariko Oracle.
“According to authentic history, Ogunmegbokanle finally settled at Osi, known and called Osi-Ekiti. Ogunmegbokanle, who came with the paraphernalia of a king and was the most senior among his siblings, was crowned as Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, thus becoming the first king of the town, Osi-Ekiti.
“File No. 31 of the Federal Ministry of Information at the Archives, subject Osi (Ado District). Matter affecting Ekiti Division, titled Osi Native Improvement Society 16th March 1937, where paragraph 7 reads as follows: ‘Your excellency, the following Obas have reigned with the full authority to wear the crown in Osi. Ogunmegbokanle, who came from Ile-Ife to settle in Osi-Ekiti, brought his crown from Ile-Ife.’
“At page 23 of this Osi matter, it was stated in paragraph 4: ‘His honour has again consulted the Oni of Ife, who stated that Olosi received a crown from Ife.’ At page 16 of this report quoted above, it was mentioned that the 1st Olosi was Ogunmegbokanle, who brought his crown from Ile-Ife.
“Both powerful writers of Ido-Osi in their books confirmed that Ogunmegbokanle founded Osi-Ekiti. See Awon Asa Odun Ati Oye Jije Osi-Ekiti, written by Alabi Benso Abioye, a prominent figure in Osi-Ekiti. On page 7, paragraph 3 of the historical book, it states that ‘approximately 700 years ago, history has made it known to us that Osi came into existence under the administration of Oba Ogunmegbokanle and Osi is still existing where it is today.’
“In view of this, we humbly request that the family be duly recognised and accorded the right to produce a candidate for the throne of the Olosi.”
The ruling house also urged the state government to constitute a chieftaincy panel to confirm the historical record with respect to the history of the town, Osi-Ekiti.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
