Ifon-Orolu Women Protest, Urge Osun Govt To Follow Due Process In Selecting New Olufon

Some women in Ifon-Orolu, in Orolu local Government area of Osun State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest against a purported selection of a new king for the town without following due process

The protesting women called on the State Government to use 1979 Chieftancy declaration in selecting a new traditional ruler for the community.

They claimed that the government has failed to allow legal process takes it’s course in the selection of new traditional ruler for the community.

According to the protesters, “the 1979 declaration as affirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction should be used in the selecting a new monarch.”

They said the state governor can only ensure that the rightful ruling houses produces the next Olufon when the 1979 declaration is used.

According to the protesters, there are five ruling houses in Ifon-Orolu and if the due process is followed, it’s the turn of Odunolu ruling house to produce the next occupant of the stool.

They warned that any attempt to impose a candidate could lead to chaos and complicate the security situation in the area.

One of the protesters, Princess Salmot Adenijis said Ifon is a traditional town whose selection of new king is by tradition, thus pleading to the State governor to allow the tradition to be enthroned.

“Out of the five ruling houses, only Odunolu is left behind. Morounfolu, Orisatoyinbo, Oluyeyin, Olumoyero was the immediate past Olufon. We’re pleading to the State government to please yield to our cry and not allow those who want to cheat us, she said.”

Another protester, Princess Folashade Oyedele said Ifon-Orolu people are people loving and would not want anything that would truncate the peace of the area.

She maintained that the purported letter issued to Morounfolu ruling house to present a candidate for the stool is illegitimate.

She added that “a letter had been given to Odunolu before then. We were already deliberating on who to be chosen for Odunolu. Later, a court injunction was secured by the Morounfolu ruling house that the letter be withdrawn and we have been in court since then.

“Due to the strike action embarked on by judiciary staff and the communal crisis between Ifon and Ilobu, the government overlooked the court case and conducted a kangaroo election where someone from Morounfolu ruling house was purportedly elected”, Princess Oyedele said.