Two royal families in Bilaro Oluodo dynasty, Ofokutu and Ajimoko- Haastrup are currently engaged in battle of wits to succeed the late Owa of Ilesha, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran.
While it has been established that the next paramount ruler of Ijesaland will come from Oluodo dynasty, the two royal families, however, are laying claims to the throne, a development that has not gone well with Ofokutu royal family which believes it is its turn to produce the next Owa Adimula.
In a statement issued by the secretary of the Ofokutu Royal Family, Prince Adetoyese Adegbohungbe, and made available to Sunday Tribune, the family appealed to the kingmakers to uphold principles of equity and fairness by considering a member of their family as the next Owa Obokun of Ijesaland.
While calling on the Agba-Ijesa to ensure a balanced and just selection process for the highly revered throne of the Ilesa community, Ofokutu emphasised that the Ajimoko-Haastrup royal family, which is also part of the Bilaro Oluodo ruling house, has already produced two monarchs for the town, leaving other families unrepresented.
But in its own reaction, Ajimoko-Haastrup family said its involvement in the selection process is guided by law and tradition.
The Ofokutu statement noted that despite repeated appeals to the Ajimoko-Haastrup family to step aside and allow the Ofokutu family a chance to produce the next monarch, their request has been ignored.
“Any attempt to nominate or appoint a candidate from the Ajimoko-Haastrup Dynasty as the next Owa by the Agba-Ijesa would violate the principles of Omoluabi, equity, and fairness,” the statement said.
The statement further chronicled the dominance of the Ajimoko-Haastrup family in the rulership history of Ijesaland. It noted that the last two Owa Obokun, Fredrick Kumokun Adedeji Haastrup and Adejumola Alexander Haastrup, who reigned from 1896 to 1901 and 1942 to 1956, respectively, were from Ajimoko-Haastrup.
Prince Adegbohungbe asserted that if the Agba-Ijesa failed to address the monopoly of the Ajimoko-Haastrup dynasty, the Ofokutu family might explore other avenues to assert their rights. He added that their intention was not to create discord but to ensure that no family within the Bilaro Oluodo ruling house is marginalised.
The Ofokutu Royal Family urged stakeholders to intervene promptly to preserve unity in Ijesaland.
“This is a matter that affects the collective future of our community. It is vital to foster inclusivity and uphold the traditional practices that have always guided us,” Adegbohungbe said.
“Despite numerous entreaties to the Ajimoko-Haastrup Royal Family to allow equity and fairness within the Ruling House by refraining from presenting any candidate for succession after the late Owa Adekunle Aromolaran II, it is apparent that the Ajimoko-Haastrup Royal Family seeks to monopolize the throne,” the statement added.
The Ofokutu Royal Family warned that continued favoritism towards one dynasty would effectively erase the other royal families within the Bilaro Oluodo ruling house, including the Adeyemi, Adebusuyi, Adegbohungbe, Obembe, and Osundaunsi-Adeyokunnu lineages.
“We passionately implore the Agba-Ijesa to consider the importance of fairness and the well-being of Ijesaland by refraining from selecting or endorsing any candidate from the Ajimoko-Haastrup family. The monopoly on rulership must end for the benefit of the entire Ijesaland,” the statement concluded.
Reacting to the allegation, Prince Isaac Haastrup, representing the Ajimoko-Haastrup family, dismissed the claims as unfounded, arguing that succession to the Owa stool is governed by established laws.
“The stool of Owa is rotated among the four ruling houses, and the gazette clearly states that every heir of the succeeding ruling house is eligible to contest the throne whenever it becomes vacant,” he explained.
Haastrup referenced historical precedence, noting that the late Oba Adekunle Aromolaran II, from the Bilayiarere dynasty, contested and won the throne twice consecutively.
“The fact that any heir from the next reigning dynasty can challenge the stool, regardless of who vacated the position, is enshrined in our tradition,” he argued.
He also addressed the issue of bias, stating, “If an Ajimoko dynasty candidate becomes the next Owa Obokun, it would not constitute prejudice on the part of the kingmakers or the government, as the process adheres strictly to our established traditions.”
The family appealed to the kingmakers in Ijesaland to uphold principles of equity and fairness.
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