The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kingmakers

  • Don’t play politics with monarchs’ selection, Fayose urges kingmakers

    Don’t play politics with monarchs’ selection, Fayose urges kingmakers

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has warned kingmakers in the state against playing politics with the selection of traditional rulers in their communities.

    According to the governor, the traditional institution is too sacred to toy with as the consequences of doing such could be unpleasant.

    Speaking in Ikere Ekiti on Saturday during the coronation of the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, the governor condemned attempts by regents to manipulate the selection of an Oba to favour some unnamed individuals.

    Noting that the position of a regent is a stop-gap before the selection of a substantive monarch, the governor further warned, “Under my watch, I won’t allow any kingmaker to play politics with the selection of any monarch. When I assumed office, there were about 12 vacant stools and to the glory of God, we have peacefully resolved and installed six monarchs.

    “The role of regent is temporary; kingmakers should not be playing politics with the selection of Obas. Within the last six months, we have installed six Obas. Any civil servant that meddles in the affairs of selecting an Oba will be dealt with. A kingmaker must have the courage to openly line up behind his choice.”

    While affirming that the choice of the new Ogoga enjoyed overwhelming support, Fayose pledged that his administration would give the town the attention it deserves.

    He promised that within the next two weeks, the dualisation of Ado-Ikere Road would be extended to Ikere township.

    A prominent indigene of Ikere and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), commended the governor for his unwavering commitment for truth and transparency in the selection of the new Ogoga.

  • Ooni: Aspirant urges kingmakers to be firm

    An Ife prince aspiring to the Ooni throne, Prince Adetunji Aderin, has urged kingmakers not to be influenced by money and politics in picking the monarch.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the great grandson of Oba Aderin Ologbenla said it would be wrong to disallow a candidate of the Giesi Ruling House, from where he hailed, from mounting the throne.

    He said by right, the ruling house should be allowed to ascend the throne.

    Aderin, a graduate of Economics from the then University of Ado-Ekiti and an Associate Member of the Association of Business Executives, United Kingdom, said besides being his right by birth, he felt compelled to offer himself to help in the development of his town.

    He said: “As the great grandson of a warrior-king, it will be a disservice to the legacy of my ancestor, Aderin Ologbenla, who reigned from 1880 to 1893 as the last Ooni from the Giesi Ruling House, if I don’t join the race.

    “According to the rotational procedure, which requires each ruling house in a particular order to produce the candidate for the Ooni, the Giesi Ruling House was meant to be next in line, but Omooba Adeniran Aderin was denied his place in history and the Ogboru Family, who should have come up after Giesi Family, ended up producing the Ooni through the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, whose father reigned from 1894 to 1910 after Aderin Ologbenla.

    “So, the rotational cycle from Aderin Ologbenla 1880-1893 (Giesi Ruling House), to Adelekan Olubuse I 1894-1910 (Ogboru Ruling House), to Ademiluyi Ajagun 1910-1930 (Lafogido Ruling House), to Adesoji Aderemi 1930-1980 (Osinkola Ruling House) should ideally have been Giesi again in 1980, but was given to Ogboru Ruling House, thereby denying the Giesi Ruling House the chance to produce an Ooni since 1893 when Aderin Ologbenla passed on.

    “It will be sheer injustice for anyone outside the Giesi Ruling House to be the next Ooni and the kingmakers are aware of this, despite the attempt of some to suggest otherwise. The throne of the Ooni is not such to be politicised or monetised, as the Giesi Ruling House has been shunned for too long. The time is ripe for it to take its rightful place. What is mine is mine and it will be wrong not to fight for my right or allow the hard work of my forefathers to be wasted.”

  • ‘Ife kingmakers must be fair’

    ‘Ife kingmakers must be fair’

    The kingmakers in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have been advised to take into consideration, cultural heritage and due process in selecting the Ooni, to enable whoever wears the crown to continue the legacies left by the late monarch, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

    The ex-Chairman of Ife Central Local Government,  Dr. Adetunji Obawole, who gave the advice, said traditional and historical norms were valued assets in choosing the Ooni.

    He said: “At this critical period in the history of the ancient town, all hands must be on deck to choose a good successor so that Ile-Ife, which serves as the custodian of the Yoruba custom and tradition, will be preserved.”

    Speaking on the death of Oba Sijuwade, Dr. Obawole described him as a father, a philanthropist and a man of many parts, who loved his subjects and contributed to the development of his community and country.

    He noted that history would not forget the contributions of the late monarch to the progress of his town.

  • Youths urge kingmakers to consider tradition

    A group, The Cradle Youths, has urged Ife kingmakers to consider the tradition of the ancient town in installing the next Ooni.

    In a statement by its co-ordinator, Mr. Kunle Elusayo, the Ife-based group described as an abomination an attempt to pick a prince that has been conferred with a chieftaincy title.

    The statement reads: “As a prince, it is an abomination to offer and receive any chieftaincy title, regardless of the prestige and ovation associated with such a title. A prince is a prospective king. Being a prince places one at a vintage position ahead of any chieftaincy title and such cannot be compromised.

    “Only those who are not princes are given chieftaincy titles and chiefs are not qualified to be Ooni of Ife. Princes are never conferred with chieftaincy titles. Once a prince, always a prince. This is a popular Yoruba custom.

    “It is, therefore, odd to see chiefs coming out to say they want to be Ooni, which is impossible. Their declaration of intention is in the first place an embarrassment to our tradition.”

  • Kingmakers pick Aladetoyinbo as Deji

    •Govt to ratify today

    •Deposed monarch seeks court injunction

    Kingmakers  in Akure, the Ondo State capital, led by the Lisa, High Chief James Olusoga, yesterday picked Prince Kole Aladetoyinbo as the new Deji of Akure.

    It was gathered that he emerged the best of the 13 contestants from the Osupa ruling house.

    At a meeting held yesterday at Asamo’s palace, sources said Aladetoyinbo  was the kingmakers’ unanimous choice.

    He may be installed this week, following the approval of the government.

    A source at the meeting said Aladetoyinbo emerged after careful observance of all traditional rites.

    The Osupa ruling house had on Friday forwarded a list of nominees to the kingmakers after a meeting at the home of its Chairman, Dr. Aladejana Ogunleye.

    The meeting was attended by officials of Akure South Local Government Area, who were there to supervise the proceedings.

    The nominees included Kayode Oluwole, Adegbola Adelabu, Adegbite

    Kayode, Adejuyigbe Femi, Adeolu Adepoju, Aladetoyinbo Kole Patrick and

    Agbebi Leye.

    Others were Arimoyo Ayodele, Bello Oluyemisi, Daramola Adeyemi, Ade

    Falodun, Ogunsuyi Oluwole and Samuel Adegboro Adebayo.

    The deposed Deji, Adesina Adepoju, at the weekend sought a court injunction to restrain the kingmakers from selecting a new Deji.

    Adepoju, whose name was missing on the list, hails from the Osupa ruling house.

    He claimed that he was still entitled to contest for the stool, as, according to him, he was wrongly removed by the government.

    Sources said the kingmakers were served with the court order last Friday.

    The government dethroned Adepoju on June 10, 2010 for allegedly battering his wife, the late Mrs. Bolanle Adepoju

    Mrs. Adepoju, who died in 2012, said the incident that led to her husband’s banishment was exaggerated.

    The development led to the installation of the late Oba Adebiyi Adesida from Ojijigogun ruling house, who was installed in 2010 as the 46th Deji of Akure.

    He died on December 1, 2013. His daughter, Princess Adetutu Adesida, was installed the Regent of Akure kingdom.

  • Kingmakers flee Ondo community over attempt to install new monarch

    Commercial activities at Idoani community in Ose Local Government of Ondo State was paralysed last weekend following an alleged attack on traders by some suspected hoodlums.

    Shops and stalls were forcefully locked at the main ‘Oja Oba’ market in attempt to install a new monarch which is being ruled by a regent since three years ago.

    Besides, majority of the kingmakers have fled the town following alleged attacks on their houses by these suspected hoodlums.

    The kingmakers accused some honourary chiefs led by one Chief Timothy Akinbode and a former Regent who is also a former member Ondo State House Assembly, Princess Asake Olubitan (nee Falade) as those behind the attacks.

    They alleged that the duo wanted to force them to install one of the candidates jostling for the stool, Prince Agunloye Falade, who is from Sadibo lineage and also an elder brother to the former lawmaker as the new Alani of Idoani.

    It will be recalled that the battle for the stool have been persisting since 2010 between three lineages; Ologbosere, Sadibo and Owusi all from Obasunloye ruling house.

    Already, six candidates are battling for the stool and they are Prince (Major-General) Olufemi Olutoye (rtd), from Ologbosere Lineage, Prince Adeniran Adebiyi, Prince Agunloye Falade and Prince Ademola Falade from Sadibo lineage. Others are Prince Ademola Atewogboye and Prince Samuel Aladesunkanmi from Owusi lineage.

    It was gathered that it took the intervention of some military personnel who are indigenes of the community who came home for Christmas and New Year celebration before normalcy was returned.

    A kingmaker who spoke from hiding with The Nation, High Chief Gideon Adelana, the Ashewa of Idoani alleged that they wanted to kidnap him but he escaped from his abductors’ hands.

    Adelana, who revealed his ordeal, said, “they wanted to kidnap me so that I will be forced to crown their candidate, who is Prince Agunloye Falade as the new Alani of Idoani. I saw some five men led by one Akinremi Obado popularly known as Uri ordering me that Chief Akinbode, who is a honourary chief wanted my presence in a meeting. Immediately, I responded that I will not attend a meeting that I did not receive its circular.

    “When I detected that their plans was to kidnap me, I told them that I have agreed to follow them to the meeting but they should allow me to take my bath. I escaped through another door in my house. When they could not find me, they mobilised themselves and destroyed my house. My wife reported this to the police but up till now, the police have not come to our rescue.

    “What we are demanding from the Sadibo lineage is that they should allow us to follow the due process. We are still waiting for the council chairman to fix a date for the selection, we have written a letter to him.  They can’t impose an Oba on us when we have six candidates jostling for the seat from the three lineages. They were even saying there is nothing like Kingmakers in Idoani and if there is nothing of such, why are they after us?

    Another kingmaker, High Chief Sunday Oludosi said the hoodlums have prevented him from entering his house by dropping some leaves in the front of his house which according to him was against the custom of their land.

    Akinbode when contacted denied the allegation that he was behind the violent attacks. According to him: “it was the princes that met last Friday and made a decision that a new king must be installed. It was during that meeting they ordered that the market should be closed. It was the youths who trooped out to stop the traders from operating.

    “The fact is that General Olutoye is behind the delay of the selection of new Alani of Idoani. Majority of the kingmakers have compromised. They are backing Olutoye and also delaying the selection of the new king. We are meeting on this issue without delay”.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)at the state Police Command, Akure, Wole Ogodo said he has not been briefed on the crisis.

     

  • Kingmakers hail Obiano’s emergence as APGA candidate

    Royal fathers and opinion leaders in Anambra North Senatorial District have applauded the emergence of Chief Willie Obiano, as the standard bearer of the All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) at the recent primaries of the party in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    Obiano, an Aguleri high chief and philanthropist ,polled 871 votes to defeat other aspirants, with his closest rival, Hon. Uche Ekwunife of Anambra Central, polling 150 votes . Other contestants were Paul Odenigbo, Emeka Nwogbo, John Nwosu and Prince John Emeka.

    The floodgate of encomiums for Obiano was flung open by a fellow gubernatorial aspirant and former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Oseloka H. Obaze. In a statement, the former SSG hailed Obiano’s victory as the fulfillment of a dream.

    According to him, “Obiano’s victory brings to fruition our long and assiduous campaign for a candidate from Anambra North to be picked as the APGA flag bearer. The people of Anambra North should be gratified and elated by this positive development and I thank all those who voted for or offered their moral support to Chief Obiano.”