The Owa Oke-Ode ruling Houses in Igbajo, Boluwaduro local government area of Osun State have called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to leave their community alone, urging him to guide against any action or decision that he would take to truncate peaceful coexistence of among the people of the community.
The ruling houses who expressed sadness over the decision of the governor to purportedly nullify the selection process of Oba Philip Gboyega Famodun said the monarch was duly selected, lawfully appointed and rightfully installed to the throne.
Addressing a press conference at the Osun NUJ Council, Osogbo, secretary of the ruling houses Prince Adeniyi Adeyemo said the community has been living in peace since the installation of Oba Famodun, warned that any attempt to unjustly remove him may not do the town any good.
It would recalled that Governor Ademola Adeleke in a White Paper recently released by the instigating committee to look into the selection process of the three Osun monarchs had nullified the selection process which produced Oba Gboyega Famodun and directed an all inclusive selection process for a new Owa nominee.
Adeyemo explained that the tradition of installing the Owa of Igbajo cannot be reversed because the traditional rites cannot be performed twice on a monarch and while a monarch still alive nobody can install another one.
He stated that the order for the re-selection process of another Owa of Igbajo after the installation of Famodun had been concluded in accordance with the Chieftaincy Law of the land is unnecessary and an aberration.
He called on the stakeholders to intervene and appeal to Governor Ademola Adeleke to leave Igbajo in peace.
.He said “Since November 22, 2022 that we installed Oba Phillip Adegboyega Famodun there is peace and progress.
“We are using this medium to appeal to the Governor because according to white paper there is other towns that have case they are challenging in court he (Adeleke) did not ask them to start another process.
“Last week Thursday the Governor directed the local government authority to start dresh process of another King from the ruling Houses. The offense of Oba Famodun should not be carry on the people of Igbajo because is not good for our customs. We know is offence is that he was once a chairman of APC in the state.
“There is a case in court let the court do there work.
“We wish to remind Governor Adeleke that his government order as contained in the recently published White Paper for the re-selection process of a new Oba is against the tradition and custom of Igbajo when the princes from Omo Owa Oke-Ode Ruling House and the kingmakers had selected Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun as the authentic Owa of Igbajo on November 22nd, 2022.
“We are making it abundantly clear to Governor Adeleke and the whole world that all the due processes were followed in accordance with the Chieftaincy Law of the land for the selection starting from the ruling houses to the kingmakers to the local government before the king was announced and installed.
“The re-selection order of Governor Adeleke for another Owa of Igbajo is oppressive, vindictive and vendetta laden and against the rule of law moreso when all the aggrived princes are already challenging the emergence of Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun in the competent court of law via suit No. HIK/1/2023 in Prince Olaniyi Akande and ors including Prince Ademola Makinde, Prince Awodola Tunde and Prince Esan Sunday Vs. The Executive Governor of Osun State and ors.
“We want to state clearly that the governor is the defendant in this case and that the government of Osun has filed a preliminary objection to strike out the case in favour Oba Famodun.
“We wish to reiterate the fact that Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun remains the duly selected, lawfully appointed and installed occupant of the Owa of Igbajo throne as it is on record that Oba Famodun was selected by the Owa-Oke Ode Ruling House of Igbajo, presented and appointed by the kingmakers and unequivocally approved by the Government of Osun State under the then Governor of Osun State, His
Excellency, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola (now Minister of Marine and Blue
Economy), in accordance with the applicable Chiefs Law and Chieftaincy
Declaration.” he added
