Uneasy Calm In Ipetumodu, As Aribile Ruling House Insists On Due Process In Kingship Selection Process

There is a protracted anxiety in Ipetumodu, in Ife-North Local government, as a leading ruling house, the Aribile lineage insisted that the kingmakers in the town must follow due process in the selection of a new Monarch for the town.

The ruling house, which is the next lineage to produce the new Apetumodu carpeted three out of the four kingmakers over what they termed as ineptitude disposition of the kingmakers against the age-long tradition and custom of the land.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the National Leader of Aribile ruling house, Prince JAT Abiodun Ayoola, the copy which was made available to CityMirrorNews in Osogbo on Wednesday .

Ayoola explained that there are three pending cases against the imposition of one Gbenga Oloyede, who he claimed was a total alien in the royal family, but manipulated the process through financial inducement of the kingmakers, led by Chief Sunday Afolabi, the Asalu of Ipetumodu and head of the kingmakers.

He said : “We, the Aribile ruling house is resolute and irreversible in our stance on the illegality presently going on in our town, involving some money mongers who are unfortunately saddled with the responsibility of selecting a new king for the town.

“It is indeed unfortunate that 3 of the kingmakers, led by Chie Asalu regrettably threw caution into the wind and went against the traditional method of kingship selection as a result of financial inducement .

“These elements jettisoned the wise advice of the fourth kingmaker, Chief Titus Olanrewaju, who is the oldest among them, and a revered custodian of Ipetu tradition and culture with regards to royal ascendancy.

“Chief Olanrewaju has repeatedly warned Asalu and his cohorts to desist from embarking on sacrilegious act that could disrupt the peace of the town and put it in serious chaos to no avail.

“It is practically impossible for half royal family to impose a candidate on other four and half royal families who have already pencilled down a candidate for the exalted position.

“We make bold to say that we have four and half, out of the eligible five ruling houses on our side, including five prominent chiefs, and with that, it is indisputably correct that we have the majority on our side.

“The illegality and conspiracy to impose an alien, in the person of Gbenga Oloyede on the town will meet brick wall and fierce resistance form our people.

“What makes this anomaly more disturbing is the role played by the Ooni of Ife, who once warned the 3 dissident kingmakers to follow the tradition of the land, which places the responsibility of selecting candidate for kingship on the ruling house and not the kingmakers.

“We were however wondered what could have informed the sudden change of Ooni’s mind, who unexpectedly changed his mind for a reason best known to him and endorsed an alien.

” The Ooni had earlier instructed the regent of Ipetumodu, who is also the Baasa of the town, Chief Duro Oyetoro to make sure due process was followed and the age-long tradition was strictly adhered to without blemish”, he said.

Ayoola further said that the resolution of a peace and reconciliation meeting spearheaded by some prominent indigenes of the town, namely: Chief Wole Adegbite, Chief Afolabi Odelana, Elder Aremu Adegoke, and Prince Mathias Oyetade was also discarded by the 3 kingmakers.

He now listed the demands of the ruling house to include:

1. The Osun State government should mandate the 3 kingmakers to follow due process and adhere to the tradition of the land in selecting the new Apetumodu.

2.We also condemn the appointment of the twin brother of the Chairman of the local government as a warrant Chief through clandestine and illegal process.

3.We hereby appeal to Governor Gboyega Oyetola to honourably and honestly look into the matter thoroughly, and investigate . He should also promptly act to stop the criminal plan of imposing an alien on our people in order to avert large scale crisis of unimaginable magnitude .

“We, the entire members of Aribile royal family believe firmly in the rule of law, and we expect the Osun State government to do same and also abide by the tenets of our tradition and custom for the purpose of entrenching peace and communal cohesion.