Ruling Houses in Iree and other stakeholders, including chiefs, community leaders, among others have stated that the committee constituted by the Osun State Government under Senator Ademola Adeleke did not invite any of the ruling houses from Iree during its sitting.
Speaking on behalf of the Representatives, the Secretary of the Ruling House, Gbenga Olatunji on Wednesday at press conference in Iree, stated that the outcome of the white paper was “”unfair and unjust” to the Ruling Houses.
It would be recalled that last week Thursday January 18th 2024, the Oṣun State Government released a white paper replacement, where it ordered a fresh selection process of the Aree of Iree and two other traditional rulers in the State.
The report called on the King makers to withdraw their case in court to pave way for a new process.
Reacting to the report, Olatunji said “the news of the said white paper came as shock and surprise and least expected from a government that always place emphasis on due process and rule of law. We are going to resist it through the instrumentality of the law.
“Throughout the sittings of the committee constituted by the state government, it is important to state that only the petitioners were invited while none of the respondents, either the ruling house that produced the King or warrant chiefs or the king were invited for interaction to get fair insight to the selection process. We therefore wondered how they arrived at the conclusion of setting aside valid and legitimate selection process”, he explained.
“We see the decision of Governor Adeleke as politically-motivated, ill-conceived and capable of destabilising the peace of Iree. It is unpopular decision meant to serve the interest of a very tiny set of people who have decided to feed fat on the Obaship matter. The resolve of those people, particularly among the Chiefs is to continue to hold people of Iree to ransom and frustrate attempt to have a generally accepted monarch like Oba Oluponnle, so that they can continue to live large” he added.
“The State Government in flagrant disobedience to ongoing court process before Justice Oluwasami Adeleke of the Osun State High Court release the so call white paper which is an apparent contempt of court. For your information, parties have called witnesses, tendered evidence and adopted written addresses and only awaiting the Judgement which was already fixed for December 14, 2023 but for the protracted JUSUN strike”, Olatunji emphasized.
It would be recalled that on November 7, 2022, the selection of Ọba Raphael Ademola Oluponle was approved by the state government and subsequently presented Staff of Office after completing all the traditional rites including the compulsory four days seclusion.
After assumption of office of Governor Ademola Adeleke on November 27, 2022 through Executive Order, the Aree of Iree was asked to vacate the palace and subsequently, and it was reported that some hoodlums invaded the place and vandalized the major facility to create an impress of crisis.
Olatunji said “the Government promised to set up a committee to investigate the process of selection and appointment of Ọba Oluponle, and before this some King makers have approached the a State High Court in respect of the same subject mater.
Olatunji stated that when Oba Ademola became the Aree of Iree there were jubilations in the town. The entire community was locked down with celebration that night that Ọba Adeponle went to seclusion.
“However, We urged the state government to respect the ongoing court process and not instigate any further crisis in Iree as a result of Aree selection, we also say emphatically that the ruling houses are behind Ọba Oluponle Ademola as the God chosen. We have installed the monarch and not ready for any selection as it amount to traditional absurdity”, he concluded.
Others who spoke at the conference said they will not conduct any traditional rite to another monarch unless the incumbent monarch joins ancestors.
