By: Femi Emmanuel
A concerned stakeholder in Ile-Ife, Fatai Adiyeloja, has expressed concern over the recognition allegedly accorded to Idowu Adediwura as the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, particularly the presentation of a staff of office while a court case challenging the legality of his emergence remains pending.
Adiyeloja, in a statement, described the development as surprising, arguing that the process leading to Adediwura’s emergence allegedly contravened the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration guiding the Obalufe stool.
He maintained that many indigenes of Ile-Ife are aware of the traditional succession order, stating that after the Adogbodo ruling house, the Orunto Aga lineage is expected to produce a candidate, followed by Adogbodo, before the Ajagbusi lineage, which he claimed Adediwura represents.
According to him, it is difficult to justify the emergence of Adediwura on the grounds that the Orunto Aga family failed to present a candidate within a short period.
He recalled that the late royal father, Obalufe Folorunso Omisakin, passed away in October 2015, questioning the urgency behind filling the vacant stool without what he described as adequate consultation with traditional stakeholders and strict adherence to due process.
“That is indeed an unpardonable error of history that must be corrected. To err is human, and to make amends is also human; only God is immutable,” he said.
Adiyeloja further noted that former Osun State governors, Rauf Aregbesola and Adegboyega Oyetola, handled the matter cautiously, expressing hope that Governor Ademola Adeleke would avoid actions capable of causing tension in Ile-Ife, regarded as the Source of Yoruba civilisation.
He disclosed that the next hearing in the legal action challenging what he termed the “illegal and inappropriate imposition” of Adediwura is scheduled for June 30.
Clarifying his position, Adiyeloja said the royal contest was not a do-or-die affair but a call for fairness and justice.
“For us, the issue is about correcting the injustice allegedly done to the Aga ruling house,” he stated.
“Idalu ni Iselu.”
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