Crisis Looms In Osun Community Over Choice Of Traditional Ruler

The serene community of Ilu-Iran in Ayedire South LCDA of Osun State may be engulfed in crisis over the choice of who occupies the ancient stool of the Oniran of Ilu-Iran after the demise of the last occupier of the stool, Oba Sawiyu Ayinla Alao, Adewolu 1 on 5th May 2023 unless the perceived cries of injustice and impunity are urgently addressed by the state government.

Also, the Awanibaku family, which is said to be the next ruling house to present a candidate for the vacant Oniran stool has chosen Prince Kazeem Akintayo Adeosun as its candidate in a letter sent to the National President of the Royal Union of Owu People (RUOP), Alhaji Engr. Fatai Akinbade.

In the letter signed by Alfa Saliu Akinade Fabunmi, Chief Dauda Olaoye Akintayo, Pa Suara Olabiyi Akintayo, Mrs. Jaworatu Adeniran, Semiu Olaitan, Mutiu Alao Orunmo, Alhaja Salimot Olaitan and Mrs. Sariyu Abeki Akibu, the family traced the history of the community and its attachment to Awanibaku, asking the statesman to ensure that Owu heritage is protected.

In two different letters and separately addressed to both the Governor of Osun State and his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs by legal practitioners, copies of which were made available to our reporter, there were allegations of wrongful presentation of candidate said to be a non-indigene for the vacant stool under reference.

In the two letters signed by A. T. Abdul Rasaq of Metro Chambers and A. F. Oladiti of Law Office of AF Oladiti on behalf of two of the ruling houses, Awanibaku and Orunmo of Ilu-Iran respectively, it was alleged that one Hon. Kunle Omolola, an indigene of Elefon Village with the firm support of one Alhaji Wasiu Amusa Akinwon has been imposed as the candidate for the vacant stool from Olaitan family of the Orunmo ruling house.

It was contended that aside from the fact that the said Hon. Omolola is persona-non-grata as far Olaitan family is concerned, it is not yet the turn of the family to produce Oniran of Ilu-Iran and that he is just coming to spoil the family’s chance when it becomes appropriate for it to make a presentation of the candidate in the future.

In one of the letters, it was stated that Hon. Omolola, using his political clout and that of his godfather, Alhaji Akinwon fraudulently presented himself to the kingmakers and both of them were alleged to have been going around town boasting that they had all the necessary political connections to ensure the accomplishment of their mission-becoming the next Oniran of Ilu-Iran fraudulently.

In order to accomplish the nefarious act, it was alleged that the Awanibaku family was denied eligibility form for selection into Obaship of Oniran of Ilu-Iran on the instruction of the Chairman, Ayedire South LCDA and to further drive home their mission, original kingmakers of the town were sidelined in the selection process.

Asking the state government to halt the selection process, described as warped and abuse of customs and tradition, the aggrieved ruling houses maintained that “by the customs and also Obaship and Chieftaincy law of Osun State, before a person could be selected for the post, he has to be recommended and proposed by the ruling house whose turn it is to present a candidate for the vacant stool”.