Onijabe Stool: Ruling House Warns Against Imposition, Says ‘It’s Our Turn’

The Oloyan/Oluode Ruling House of Ijabe in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State has warned against the alleged imposition of an individual as the next Onijabe, insisting that it is its turn to produce the next traditional ruler of the community.

The ruling house also appealed to the state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to ensure that the process of filling the vacant traditional stool is not manipulated in favour of any individual or ruling house.

The position was contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Gazali Abolaji Lawal on behalf of the Oloyan/Oluode Ruling House.

Lawal was reacting to reports that Tajudeen Abioye, a prince of the Olukoye Ruling House, had been parading himself as the next Onijabe following the death of Oba Felix Oyeniyi Oyelade II.

The ruling house said the clarification became necessary to prevent what it described as the distortion of the history and established tradition governing the succession to the Onijabe stool.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is the turn of Oloyan/Oluode Ruling House to produce the next Onijabe and not Olukoye Ruling House. This is in line with the well-established rotational arrangement and chieftaincy declaration guiding the Onijabe stool,” Lawal stated.

It further claimed that no formal selection process had been announced by the kingmakers, stressing that neither the Odo-Otin Local Government nor the Osun State Government had approved anyone to occupy the vacant stool.

Lawal warned that any attempt to truncate what the ruling house described as the age-long rotational arrangement would be resisted by its members and other concerned indigenes of Ijabe.

He also called on Abioye and his supporters to desist from actions capable of creating tension in the community, urging all parties to allow the traditional succession process to follow established procedures.

The ruling house urged Governor Adeleke to uphold fairness, justice and the existing chieftaincy arrangement in the selection of the next monarch.

While commiserating with the family of the late monarch, the Ijabe community and the Odo-Otin Traditional Council over Oba Oyelade’s death, Lawal called on the kingmakers, local government authorities and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to ensure strict compliance with due process.

He said peace, transparency and respect for the traditional succession arrangement should guide the process of filling the vacant Onijabe stool.