By Ibraheem Olanrewaju
It is sad that our Kingmakers have decided to hold the entire Iree Community to ransome over the selection of Aree of Iree Land. Very unfortunate that some of them refused to place the interest of the community above personal and political interest, instead they are blackmailing the government.
Today, Friday 28 of October 2022, marked the second time that our King makers will absconded from King selection process. They agreed to meet by 11 am this morning with the Local Government Authority to select a King after the last week Friday meeting failed. The boycott is been led by High Cheif Saliu, Aogun of Iree land over complain about selection of Warrant Cheif. Last Week Friday, they absconded from accepting a letter for local government for the selection process.
This is unfair to Iree community that has been yearning for a King. It is the practice anywhere that when any of the King maker is late, government has the right to appoint warrant Cheif which government has done in the case of Iree, by replacing our late Eesa with Iyalode to make the warrant Chief (6) as recognised by Iree Cheiftancy Declaration.
It is better to educate our self over this matter in the interest of the community, cheiftancy law does not empower any King maker to reject or accept the warrant Cheif, it is the perogative of the government. In fact, out of 10 Obas recently approved by the Osun State Executive Council, 6 were selected through the Warrant Cheifs, why that of Iree must be different. Let’s assumed that the King Makers have a preferred candidate, why not allowing the selection and voting process to take place. Warrant Cheif assignment start in a day and ends in a day. In fact in many instances, they used warrant Chief as all King makers in some places so why only one out of 6 warrant Cheif will now become and issue that will hold the entire community into ransome for close to 5 years.
The King Makers, especially Aogun was quoted to have said the King will not be selected until after the expiration of the tenure of this administration. What is our business with any administration. It is the power of the King makers to select a King and let’s do so after almost four years legal battle. We should commend the ruling houses who removed the legal obstacles and court cases to allow the process to continue. This was the same thing they said in July 2018, when the late Larooye, Oba Jimoh Olayonu joined his ancestors that they will not select the King until the expiration of the tenure of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola which delayed the matter until the Ruling Houses took the case to court before the judgement this year. So if we don’t do it now, by next administration some people may still approach court and for the next four years we are not going to have a King, this will be a shame on all
Is like the King Makers are enjoying the throne without a King, abi what else, they are even installing traditional chiefs without a King and the ruling house kept mute and watching such traditional aberration. I can’t imagine a situation where they will ask you to come and perform your legal duties to select a King and be absconding, even if you have a preferred choice, go and elect him all we want is King from eligible ruling houses. It is gathered that the King makers are also planning a litigation to stop the process, this will not be in the best interest of the community.
I want to urge the ruling houses not to make Iree Kingless community, the Iree Progressive Association (IPA) and religious leaders must also intervane to educate and advise the King makers to place the interest of the community at the fore front, all those contesting from the ruling houses are bonafide Princes of Iree and they are eligible to the throne. I am also urging our political leaders in Iree to ensure that they are not contravening any law in the process of selection and they should not allow any individual to be a stumbling blocks to select our King. All legal option must be complied with in the process of the King selection. If warrant Cheifs is what we need to have a King, so be it, if it is legal, as long as all the contestants are eligible. What we want is King that will serve the interest of Iree community. Enough is Enough.
Ibraheem Olanrewaju
Oke Aree, Iree
