We May Dethrone Aragbiji If…., Iragbiji Prince Threatens

Prince Olawale Tunde of Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government of Osun state, the hometown of the Governor elect, Gboyega Oyetola has called on stakeholders to caution the town’s monarch, oba AbdulRasheed Olabomi in order to forestall an imminent socio-cultural and religious crisis in the town.

Addressing a press conference in the NUJ Correspondents’ chapel office in Osogbo on Monday, prince Olawale said crisis is brewing between the Muslim community and the traditionalists on the one hand as well as the observance and respect for the community’s culture and customs.

Also in a letter by his lawyer, Abioye Kunle Charles, Prince Tunde said the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba AbdurRasheed Olabomi, needs to be cautioned before he cause religious crisis in the town.

He explained that the monarch has gone against the dictate of culture by vacating the palace for his personal residence and deserved to be dethroned.

He said “it is usually believed in Iragbiji culture that if any Kabiesi did not sleep in the palace for certain period of time, the stool of Aragbiji will be declared vacant.

Recalling that there were precedence in the enthronement of any monarch that violates the culture, Tunde said “it happened in the reign of HRM Late Oba Ogunmolu who although was still alive and healthy, while another person HRM Akinlotan, was installed because Oba Ogunmolu did not sleep in the palace for 5 weeks when he went to face a charge before the then Old Oyo Empire.

“He was informed on his way back when he get to Ede town, that another King has been installed. He has to seek asylum in Ede and later died there. He was buried at the river bank of Isanpa and could not be brought into the town.

Also, Prince Tunde alleged that Oba Olabomi has taken step to create chaos by building Mosque and a Shrine together in the palace thus causing religious problem in the town.

He alleged that the monarch has also caused division within Muslim faithfuls since he refused to heed to the warning by league of Imams and Alfas not to build Shrine beside the Mosque.

He said many Muslims have left the Mosque for the monarch while some are still observing prayers with him in the palace.

“All this crisis would have been prevented if Oba Olabomi has listened and harkened to the advice of the league of Imams and Alfas to either move away the Mosque or Shrine. Instead of doing that, HRM Oba Olabomi established another Jumat prayer in the palace, which means the monarch who is suppose to be the custodian of Culture, Law and believes is still the same person creating discord, rift and chaos between the Muslim on one hand, Muslim and traditionalist on the other hand.

The prince added that “moya in xouncil” which is to be the meeting of all the royal families in the town in the house of Elemo has been cancelled and taken to the palace by Oba Olabomi. This, he alleged has eroded the function of this body from cautioning the monarch.

He called on well meaning people to prevail on Aragbiji to ensure peace reigns in Iragbiji by doing all things possible to pre-empt imminent break down of peace, cultural disharmony in the community.