Attack on Aree’s Palace Is Because Of Aogun’s Arrest- Kingmakers Insists

Hours after a section of the Aree of Iree’s palace in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun state was set ablaze by assailants, kingmakers in the town have blamed the unfortunate incident on the arrest of the head of the Kingmakers, Chief Soliu Atoyebi, the Aogun of Ireeland by officials of the Directorate of the state Security operatives ( DSS) on Thursday evening.

According to the Kingmakers, the arrest of Chief Atoyebi infuriated the angry protesters in the community to go berserk and on rampage on the said day.

While condemning the arrest of the head of the Kingmakers at a press conference held in the town, the Osolo of Iree, Chief Sobalaje Alao, insisted that they have not elected a new Aree yet.

Chief Sobaoju alleged that the arrest of the Aogun, which was carried out by the law enforcement agent, was the handiwork of the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair, Mr Bayo Adeleke, who is also an indegene of the town.

According to him, ” it was unfortunate that, despite the directive of the state governor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, that Aree and two other monarchs should vacate their palaces pending the conclusion of the review of the process that led to their emergence, Prince Raphel Oluponle, installed by the immediate past administration in the community did not leave the palace.”

The spokesperson, maintained that, “We have not elected Aree. There was a lot of manipulations towards the emergence of the current occupant of the throne and that can’t stand because the installation of Olupona as Aree did not follow due process and therefore unacceptable to the people of Iree.”

“Since the imposition of Prince Ponle as Aree by the last administration,  we as the custodians of the traditions and leaders of our dear community have ensured that aggrieved youths and women are pacified not to take laws into their hands by disrupting the peaceful social existence of both indigenes and non indigines in our community.” he said 

Corroborating Sobaloju’s point, Chief Saka Lawal, said in the history of Iree, there has never been a time that the constitution and traditionally recognized Kingmakers are denied their civic right to exercise their powers to install a new King

He added: “Our open peaceful demonstration today is a confirmation of our unconditional support and total loyalty to the government of Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke to correct all the anomalies in the selection of Aree and to ensure that our aged longs tradition is protected and respected.”

He however charged the appropriate authorities to act accordingly to right all wrongs concerning the Aree’s refusal to quit the palace.

However, in another development, heads of ruling houses in Iree from Oyekun Ruling House, Prince Olatunji Gbemiga argued that, the violent protests that led to the burning of the palace on Thursday was a sponsored attack to create an impression that there is crisis in Ireeland and to forcefully effect the order on the monarch to vacate the palace.

He thereafter appealed to security agencies to ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly acts are brought to book while peace and tranquillity reigns in Ireeland.

He said since the installation of Oba Ponle Raphael Ademola, the community had remained peaceful.

“After attacking the palace, the hoodlums entered houses of individuals in Iree, attacking them, destroying their properties all in their effort to create an impression that there is crisis in the town over Obaship.

“Those that led the attacked were, popular thug called Gbedu, who is always involve in disrupting the peace of the town; and his cohorts including Oluomo, Taye Kerosene, Agunbiade and Saje among others. We have reported those that spearheaded the attack to the police”.