There are fresh crisis looming in Igbajo, Boluwaduro East Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), and Iree, Boripe North Local Councuil Development Authority (LCDS
A) , over commencement of new selection process of new Owa of Igbajo and Aaree of Iree against the advise of the state government recently released white and in contempt of the cases in court.
It was learnt that on Tuesday , February 13, 2024, Boripe North LCDA, Iree, Chairman, Jamiu Adedokun, conveyed a meeting of ruling houses in Iree and informed them that they any interested candidate in Aaree stool has up till Friday, February 16th, to purchase a new nomination form from the local government as directed by the ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The meeting was held under heavy security comprising police, Department of State Services (DSS) and men of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps amidst rising tension in the town.
But however, ruling houses in Iree objected the meeting raising “contempt of court and gross violation of the government white paper” over the inability of the parties to withdraw the case in court as a result of the ongoing Judicial Workers Union (JUSUN) strike insisting that no process can commence without the withdrawal of the case in court.
In a letter dated February 13, 2024 addressed to the Chairman Boripe North LCDA, and Head of Local Government signed by PA Micheal Olaniyi the head of Oyekun ruling house, Alhaji Jimoh Ayiloye, Head of Iyonhola ruling house, and Alhaji Sulaimon Olaniyi, Elder, Olubonku family informed the council that they are not interest in the meeting not to violate the law and government directive.
A copy of the letter obtained by our Correspondent reads “kindly be informed that we the Ruling Houses invited by your office have decided to restrain ourselves from doing anything that is contrary to the law and the White Paper.
“The white paper made it compulsory for the king makers to withdraw the case in court before a new selection process can kick start and as of today 13th of February 2024,courts in osun state remain shut down due to JUSUN strike . How did you now withdraw the case in court ?. In addition, lawsuit instituted over the matter is still pending and it amounts to contempt of court to kick start a new selection process.
“In view of the foregoing, we hereby dissociate ourselves from any meeting designed to purportedly commence selection of a candidate for purpose of Aree Stool which is not vacant.” the letter read.
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This development has increased tension in the town as the people are gathering in groups to discus the development while stretgic meetings were ongoing when our reporter visited the twon.
In Igbajo, the state government officials led by Barrister Dosu Fatokun, Special Adviser tó the Governor on Security, Bar Samuel Ọjọ́ ’, and Boluwaduro East LCDA Chairman, Mr John Fatoki Abiodun, last week Monday stormed Ọwá Palace in Igbajo in company of contigents of harmed security personnel to hold a meeting with ruling houses and king makers but it was reported that the King makers boycotted the meeting.
It would be recalled that the state government had on January 19 released a white paper nullifying the selection of Aree of Iree, Oba Raphael Oluponle and Owa of Igbajo Ọba Adegboyega Famodun and directed a fresh process with a condition that Iree kings makers should withdraw their case in court before commencement of fresh process.
