Sequel to crisis of two candidates, Prince Ashiru Olalere Oyebisi and Pastor Samuel Ojewola of Iko Ruling Dynasty with aspiration for the vacant stool of Onilua of Ilualand, Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State, Five (5) of Seven(7) Kingmakers have on Wednesday, November 11 endorsed the candidature of the former for the exalted position.
The kingmakers with their designated portfolios: Chief Ojeleye Timothy(Abese), Chief Rasaki Hamzat(Otun-Ago), Chief Azeez Banji(Balogun), Chief Salami Aderibigbe(Sobaloju) and Chief Reuben Fayemi(Babasale) have at the final selection process held at the Local Government Secretariat endorsed Ashiru as the next monarch of Ilualand while Chief Emmanuel Egbeyale(Agoro), Head of kingmakers and Mr Musibau Muraina who acted as warrant chief for ‘Bashorun’ allegedly supported Ojewola.
According to the meeting which was scribed by Italeke Moses Ademola and presided by the Head of Kingmakers, Chief Emmanuel Egbeyale goes as follows:
Ademola said, ” the meeting of Ilua’s Kingmakers, Security Agents and the Local Government’s top personnel took place on November 11, 2020 at the council secretariat”.
” The opening prayer was said by Chief Rasaki Hamzat(OtunAgo), while Chief Reuben Fayemi asked the Local Government personnel to explain the conditions that warranted Mr Musbau Muraina who is not from Aiyetoro Compound Ilua to act as warrant chief for ‘Bashorun’ who is not yet installed”.
” The Head of Local Adminstration, Mr Adedeji explained that it is not compulsory under the chieftaincy law to appoint the warrant chief for vacant Bashorun’s stool from the family that is legally due for the exalted position, while Babasale spoke on behalf of the kingmakers to allow him to stay and others unanimously agreed”.
” Chief Reuben Fayemi asked Chief Emmanuel Egbeyale to read the communique issued at the end of the meeting of Iko Ruling Dynasty, Egbeyale did in English while Fayemi interpreted in the native language”.
“The purpose of the letter had it that as long as the Chairman of Iko Ruling House has endorsed Pastor Samuel Ojewola as the next Onilua of Ilualand, which under the law, the kingmakers can can approve or disapprove him”.
” Before the meeting’s continuation, introduction of the meeting’s participants was carried out, beginning from Adedokun J. Omotoso( Director of Administration and General Services), Niyi Onatunji(Deputy Director of Administration And General Services), Folorunso Amos(Acting DPO), Odeyemi Rotimi O.(D.O. NSCDC), Adeyemi O. Adegunwa(2IC D.S.S), Inspector Jimoh Kehinde(S/O Okeho), Osineye W.(O.B. Rep.), Mrs Ajayi A.A.(Estab. Officer) and Salaudeen Ibrahim (Adm. Officer)respectively”.
” While the kingmakers were introduced as Mr Musibau Muraina( Warrant Chief), Chief Ojeleye Timothy(Abese), Chief Rasaki Hamzat(Otunago), Chief Azeez Banji(Balogun), Chief Salami Aderibigbe(Sobaloju) and Chief Reuben Fayemi(Babasale) respectively”.
” After that, Chief Emmanuel Egbeyale(Agoro) expatiated that the meeting centred on unanimous decision of Iko Ruling House on Ojewola’s endorsement and presentation of his candidature to the the kingmakers”.
In their responses,” Chief Azeez Banji(Balogun) responded that he was not in support of Ojewola as the next Onilua of Ilualand because he had no knowledge of where he was born, neither could he point to any of his contributions to community’s development”.
” After that, Chief Reuben Fayemi(Babasale) said he had two letters of interest from the duo of Prince Ashiru Olalere Oyebisi and Pastor Samuel Ojewola, added that it was disheartening and worrisome that Agoro only endorsed Ojewola’s letter for the kingmakers and however declined the receipt of Ashiru’s letter of interest, he said he did not support Ojewola as the next monarch because he had no contributions for Ilua’s development”.
“The likes of Chief Rasaki Hamzat( OtunAgo), Chief Timothy Ojeleye(Abese) and Chief Salami Aderibigbe vehemently rejected the candidature of Pastor Samuel Ojewola as the next monarch of Ilualand”.
” In his own piece of advice, the Chief Commander, NSCDC, Odeyemi Rotimi explained that his observation centred on the fact that the procedures of picking candidates done by the Iko Ruling House and the kingmakers were not fair at all, he advised them to go back to their drawing boards to revisit the procedures”.
“The Head of Local Administration ( HLA), Mr Adedeji said that when there were two candidates for the vacant stool of Onilua of Ilualand, he suggested that the Iko Ruling House and the kingmakers should go back home to follow the necessary procedures and speak in one voice”.
” After that he appealed to the kingmakers to sign the attendance register that signified their attendance and participation, Babasale stood up again and reiterated that it was evidenced that five(5) kingmakers unanimously supported Prince Ashiru Olalere Oyebisi as the next monarch of Ilualand but disapproved the candidature of Pastor Samuel for the exalted position, after that the kingmakers signed the attendance register”.
” Chief Azeez Banji(Balogun) made a move for the suspension of the meeting while it was seconded by Chief Salami Aderibigbe, the suspension prayer was said by Chief Timothy Ojeleye(Abese) and the meeting finally ended by 4:11 pm of the day”,Ademola explained.
While fielding questions from journalists after the meeting, Chief Reuben Fayemi (Babasale)revealed that five among the seven kingmakers had endorsed Prince Ashiru Olalere Oyebisi as the next monarch of Ilualand sequel to his antecedents and contributions to community’s development.
To know why he is supporting Pastor Samuel Ojewola, the Head of Kingmakers, Chief Emmanuel Egbeyale(Agoro) could not be found after the meeting and his mobile phone was switched off as at the time of filing this report.
