Crisis is brewing in Ijare community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo over alleged attempt to sabotage the process of selecting a new traditional ruler for the community following the passing away of Oba Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun Kokotiri II.
Members of the only ruling House, the Sejeokun Ruling House on Sunday protested and kicked against the move by the head of the kingmakers, the Sapetu of Ijare, Chief Wemimo Olaniran, to pick his preferred candidate as the new monarch of the town.
They alleged the kingmakers and some elements within the town of planning to forcefully draft candidates who were not entitled to the throne to the race.
The members of the ruling house, however, said the kingmaker is still going on with the fraudulent process despite the directive of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that the process should start all over again
In a letter written by the ruling House and addressed to the Speaker of the state Assembly, signed and made available to Journalists in Akure on Sunday by the Head, Sajeokun Ruling House, Adekunle Alade; Mr Adebambo Oluwagbemigun and Mr Adebanjo Adejuwon, expressing their displeasure over the development in the town.
They alleged that the action of Olaniran had pitched some of the kingmakers against each other and polarized the entire peaceful community.
The ruling house who called for the removal of the Olaniran clarified that the community has only one ruling house in line with the chieftaincy declaration, appealed to Chief Sapetu not to interfere in the Sejeokun Royal family affairs saying he’s never part of the family.
But the Sapetu of Ijare, Chief Olaniran explained that due process was followed by the kingmakers in the selection of the new monarch, saying 13 candidates were presented by the ruling house and screened by the kingmakers.
Olaniran said the bone of contention was the presentation of four out of the 13 initial candidates presented by the ruling house after the ifa divination had been conducted, but said the kingmakers insisted that all the 13 candidates are eligible to the throne.
He, however, said the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs had intervened in the matter, halting all the processes until the determination of suit challenging the nomination of some candidates for the stool.
He disclosed that all the kingmakers were on the same page on the selection of the new monarch for the town and there was no special interest in any of the candidates but the one chosen for the town through divination
The ruling house however, said in its letter that “The Omowas of the Sejeokun ruling house is at this moment using this platform to inform you about an issue of grave concern happening within the Ijare Community since we started the process of selecting a new Olujare following the demise of HRM Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun Kokotiri II.
“To summarize the situation, we have only one ruling house in line with the chieftaincy declaration. At the onset of the selection process, it was discovered that there was a collusion between the head of the kingmakers (Chief Odunola Wemimo Olaniran, the Sapetu of Ijare) and the ceremonial head of Sejeokun (Chief Arinmo) ruling house.
“As a result of this, the ruling house kicked against the fraudulent process. It was resolved by the Ifedoro Local Government Management and the Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs for the process to be reconvened and that the process should start all over again from the Ruling house.”
The Sejeokun ruling House claimed, “In every attempt we have made to restart the selection process, Chief Sapetu has continued to sabotage the process all because his preferred candidate is not considered by any standard to be a worthy candidate to ascend to the exalted throne by the ruling house.
“As of today, his actions have pitched a few of the Afobajes against each other and polarized the entire community. In a case that we currently have in the court between members of the royal family, he has purposely counterclaimed in the case, even though he was just joined as an observer from the onset of the suit.
“We have written a series of petitions to the Ifedore Local Government, the Police Area Command (Akure), and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; all of them have mediated at different times, advising that Chief Sapetu not to interfere in the Sejeokun Royal family affairs because he’s not part of the family. The minutes of the meetings can attest to this.”
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