Hearing On Ara Chieftiancy Stool Stalled By Transfer Of Judges

…..As Ruling Houses Kick Against Installation Of New Alara Of Ara

Hearing on the chieftaincy stool of Alara of Ara in Egbedore Local Government Council of Osun State was yesterday stalled following the sudden posting of Justice Ayo Oyebiyi from State High Court sitting in Ejigbo.

Justice Oyebiyi was posted to preside over the State High Court in Ejigbo just two weeks ago and had already given out notice to all the parties involved in the chieftaincy stool matter to commence hearing of the suit filed by all the five ruling houses in the chieftaincy matter of Ara.

The five ruling houses of Ajadi, Adedijo, Odusina, Laagbo and Adumori. They filed suit challenging the appointment and installation of Olubayo Iwindapo Oyelade Abidogun as new Alara of Ara praying the court that he is not entitle to acsend the throne of Alara of Ara tradotional stool because he does not belong to the male linage as specified by 1979 Alara of Ara Chieftaincy Declaration.

The Court presided by Justice Yinka Aderibigbe had on 3rd October 2018 granted the prayers of the appelant that statue quo be maintained over the chieftaincy matters concerning Ara pending the determination of suit filed by the ruling houses but the state government issued letter of appointment to Olubayo Iwindapo Oyelade Abidogun on 17th December 2018 to ascend the throne contrary to the court injuctions.

On 13th January, the five ruling houses filed motion urging the court to set aside the appointment and installation of Oyelade Abidogun as new Alara of Ara and motion was granted by the court.

However, Osun State Government has announced 23rd January 2020 as the date for presentation of staff of office and certificate as well as installation of Oyelade Abidogun as new Alara of Ara in defiance of the court order.

The court also fixed Wednesday 22nd 2020 for hearing of the case but the new judge, Justice Ayo Oyebiyi was said to have been reposted to another court barely two weeks in Ejigbo, thus stalling the hearing of the case.

Meanwhile, protest has greeted the appointment and proposed installation of Oyelade Abidogun as new Alara of Ara.

The five ruling houses staged protest in Ara to press home for their rejection of Iwindapo Oyelade Abidogun as new Alara of Ara.

Armed with placards with various inspriptions such as”Approval of Iwindapo as Ara King is a day light robbery”, “Iwindapo is not from Ara, he is from Lalupon in Lagelu Local Government Council of Oyo State, dont impose him as Alara”, “Iwindapo approval is against the pending case”, “Dont disobey court injunctions on Ara Chieftaincy Title”, “Dont disrupt our tradition and heritage” among others, the ruling houses declared that Iwindapo did not belong to any of the existing five ruling houses in Ara community and consequently not entitle to fill the stool.

The ruling housed appealed to state government to obey court order and suspend the installation og Oyelade Abidogun pending the determination of the case in court.

Notwitstanding, the new monarch claimed that he hails from Ajadi Ruling House. According the invite for the presentation of staff of office, Iwindapo Oyelade Abidogun claimed he is a desendant of the Oyelade Abidogun section of Ajadi Ruling House in Iraye Oba Compound and third to ascend the throne from Ajadi Ruling House.

Prince Emmanuel Ilufoye also from Ajadi ruling house challenged him maintaining that untold injustice would be melted against Ajadi Ruling House and the entire Omo mojo (all the Ruling Houses of Ara) if he eventually installed as new Alara of Ara.

According to him, “we make bold to say that One Dr. Iwindapo Olubayo who is still parading himself as Alara of Ara is a foreigner in, and not a member of Ajadi Ruling House of Ara, but he is from Lalupon, Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

“It should also be stated clearly that only three candidates namely; (1) Prince Gideon Olufemi Adegboye (2) Prince Samson Oladunmoye Ilufoye and Prince Victor Oyekanmi Adegboye (male line) purchased expression of interest form legally and have them endorsed by the Family Head.

” The said Dr. Iwindapo Olubayo who purchased his own form through the backdoor did not present his own form to the Head of the Family for endorsement.

“We also wish to restate here that the customary law regulating the selection of anyone to fill the vacant stool of Ara whenever same occurs, is the registered Alara of Ara chieftaincy Declaration of 1979 which is not only the Statutory Provisions governing the conduct and the filling of the vacant stool of Ara, but the ground norm to be strictly observed on the issue of Alara Chieftaincy even in any chieftaincy matters. Unfortunately, this customary law which is the major instrument in a registered Chieftaincy was also ignored in the process of nomination/ selection of Alara.

“It also becomes necessary to inform Mr Governor that several necessary legally allowable steps were taken including issuance of several correspondences to the Governor’s Office and other concerned Government agencies on the need to comply strictly with the 1979 Alara of Ara Chieftaincy Declaration, all to no avail.

“Having discovered that the due process was being crippled, the Head and eligible- male line contestants from Ajadi Ruling House approached Osun State High Court, Ejigbo Judicial Division in order to correct the anomaly vide Suit No. HEJ/09/2019: PRINCE EMMANUEL O. ILUFOYE & ORS VS THE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE & ORS is still pending at the Ejigbo High Court as we are here today.

“We strongly believe that this is the only civilized way to handle the matter and we also state that our law abiding position is borne out of civilization, wisdom, maturity and not due to our weakness nor cowardness.

But in a swift reaction, Olubayo Iwindapo denied the allegation that he is not from the community saying he is bonafide son of the community.

He explained that he was selected and picked by all the 18 kingmakers including 7 authentic one and 11 who are warrant chiefs.

Out of 18 of them, none of them thinks that this person is a stranger. The ruling houses are just five in Ara while kingmakers are from 18 different are from 18 differwnt compounds. I hail from one of the five ruling houses in Ara community.

According to him, ‘thier coming to report to you is not prejudicial? If they believe in court, they don’t have to call anybody. If I am stranger to them, I am from a ruling house and members of the ruling house, who dont believe in me have gone to court. Why dont they leave them to sought themselves out?

” There is no edit that says molebis have anything to do with the appointment of Alara. They have not business whatsoever. They are hungry people. The kingmakers are the kingmakers are the ones that are recognised.

“And there are 18 kingmakers. 7 are the authentic ones and 11 are the warrant chiefs. Out of 18 of them, none of them thinks this person is a stranger. The ruling houses are just five in Ara while kingmakers are from 18 different compounds. I am from one of the five ruling houses. They are confused.”