•Orangun tackles Owa Obokun
Orangun of Ila-Orangun, Oba Abdul-Wahab Olukayode Oyedotun, Bibiire I, yesterday advised the Osun State government and the public to disregard a claim that the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, has been appointed the acting chairman of the Osun State Council of Obas.
Speaking at a news briefing in his palace at Ila-Orangun, Oba Oyedotun said the claim by Oba Aromolaran through newspaper advertorials was misleading and should be corrected to prevent history from being distorted.
He said since the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who died in a London hospital, vacated the office of the chairman of the Osun State Council of Obas, at no time was any traditional ruler appointed to act as the chairman.
His words: “It is misleading for the Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, to start proclaiming himself as the acting chairman of the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers. In the first place, what we have is Osun State Council of Obas. Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers does not exist, neither is there any acting chairman in the person of Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran.
“Until his demise, the late Oba Sijuwade remained the bona fide chairman of the Osun State Council of Obas and till now no chairman has been appointed as his successor. The late Oba Sijuwade was the permanent chairman and the position was proclaimed by the government. The arrogation of the position of acting chairman on the Owa Obokun by himself is, to say the least, illegal.”
The monarch, who said the Orangun of Ila position in the obaship hierarchy was superior to that of Owa Obokun, noted: “I am surprised to have found the name of Orangun of Ila below that of Owa Obokun in the publication, which must have sent a wrong information to millions of Nigerians.”
He drew the attention of the government, Nigerians and the Yoruba race to the fact that the Owa Obokun position does not take precedence over the Orangun of Ila, insisting that Oba Aromolaran attempted to “concoct, bastardise and subvert facts.”
In attendance at the briefing were the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi; the Olokuku of Okuku, Oba Samuel Oluronke; the Elerin of Erin-Osun, Oba Yusuf Omoloye Oyagbodun; the Olunisa of Inisa, Oba Joseph Oladunjoye; and Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Lawal.