The people and leadership of a ruling house in Oda community, the Okunbadejo Ruling House of Oda Community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo state, have warned the newly installed monarch of the community, Oba Julius Omomo, not to parade himself as the traditional ruler of the town until after the determination of the suit before the Supreme Court in Abuja.
The ruling house who opposed the appointment and subsequent installation of Omomo as the traditional ruler of the town, said Omomo has no right to perform any role in the forthcoming traditional festival.
The Ruling House in Oda faulted the selection of Omomo as the new Olojoda, alleging that it is in violation of the town tradition, saying the installed monarch is not from the ruling house and not a direct male child of Okunbadejo royal ruling family.
The head of the Okunbadejo ruling house, Sunday Omosebi, argued that the late mother of Omomo was an in-law to the Okunbadejo royal family and not related to the ruling house, and cannot be representative of the Okunbadejo ruling house.
According to Omosebi, who stated that the most important criterion a prince must fulfil before he could be crowned is to be a biological member of any of the royal families.
He alleged that the purported Olojoda designate was never a member of the royal family and was not presented as one the ruling house aspirants and said Omomo was disqualified on the ground that he was not a member of the ruling house
He stated that “we are not convinced that he is from Odofin male side as claimed by him, because he said Odofin begot Adannri his grandfather but we found out that Odofin never had a son named Adannri
“The committee in its recommendation on the four contestants stated that Omomo is not a member of the family and hereby disqualified from contesting for the vacant stool of Olojoda of Oda.
“This was based on explanation on how he is related to Okunbadejo ruling house. We on behalf of the Okunbadejo Ruling House vehemently oppose the self imposition and desperate attitude of Omomo to impose himself as a member of Okunbadejo Ruling House.
We shall not fold our arms and watch a non member of our royal house to use cunny means and wishful caprices to impose himself into our royal affairs upon his selfish interest.
“Finally, we urge the state government to investigate these allegations and facts in line with Ondo state White Paper on Morgan Review Commission of 1981 which state categorically that the person qualified to be proposed as candidate by ruling entitled to fill a vacancy in the Chieftaincy shall be: member of ruling house and of the male line only”
However, the monarch, Omomo maintained that he was not aware of any suit against his installation as the traditional ruler of the town, saying he has the support of all the kingmakers, stakeholders and people of the town, ratifying his appointment and installation as the monarch of the town.
