The Owa Oke-Ode Ruling Houses of Igbajo in Osun State have unanimously faulted the nullification of the selection process of Oba Adegboyega Famodun as the Owa of Igbajoland by the state Governor Ademola Adeleke in the White Paper issued yesterday.
Members of the Omo Owa Oke-Ode, who made this known through a statement, also revealed that the unanimous resolution came up after an emergency meeting held by sixteen of them.
According to them, the members resolved that the government order of re-selection is against the custom and tradition of Igbajo, and may stand as a threat to the peace and tranquillity of the town.
In their words: “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 and to the state government before the king was announced and installed.
“The tradition of installing the Owa of Igbajo cannot be reversed because the traditional rites cannot be performed twice.
“All the aggrieved princes are already challenging the emergence of Oba Philips Adegboyega Famodun in the competent court of law via suit No. HIK/1/2023. Prince Olaniyi Akande and others Vs The Executive Governor of Osun State and Ors.
“We appealed to the government not to disturb the peace and tranquillity the town has been enjoying for years and that the tradition and culture of Igbajoland are sacred and must be sustained.
Recall that Oba Philip Adegboyega Famodun was one of the Obas affected by the governor Adeleke’s order for re-selection of rulers who had been instituted on November 22nd, 2022 by former Governor Adegboye Oyetola.
Other obas to be re-selected are obas of Iree and Ikirun.
