There is an uneasy tension in Irele community, Irele local government after youths vowed to resist any attempt by the police or any security outfit to arrest their King, Oba Ademola Idowu Oloworiyibi, the Olofun of Irele.
The youths said the entire community remained happy for having a monarch five years after the demise of their last king.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Olugbenga Ale, asked the Commissioner of Police, Oyediran Oyeyemi, to arrest and prosecute Oba Ademola Idowu.
Akeredolu said Oba Oloworiyibi was an impersonator as his administration has not approved or appointed anybody as the Olofun of Irele kingdom.
Oba Oloworiyibi was crowned last month but some persons petitioned the State Government saying the issue of the kingship was still before the court of law.
Akeredolu said the installation of Oba Ademola was capable of causing disaffection amongst the peace-loving people of the ancient town and that the consequences could be better imagined.
Ondo Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Akinwunmi Sowore told The Nation that Oba Ademola failed to comply with laid rules and procedures.
According to him: “The man in Irele had not complied with our process at the Ministry. The procceses was that he will be selected officially. The outcome will be sent to the State Executive Council for approval. The government will give Instrument of office and Staff of Office to All these are the key powers the Ministry will bestowed on any person who will become an Oba.
“If anybody has not received all these and he is parading himself as an Oba , the person has committed an infraction against the Chiefs Laws of Ondo State
“There is no doubt the stool has been vacant for five years. Anybody who will mount the throne will have to fulfill all proceesses known to law. It had its punishment in our laws.
“It is not about any case in court. It is about the process. Anybody who will be a king will have to pass through all the processes. In the Obaship, there is a Chieftaincy law in the state that must be adhered to. If they have written to the Ministry, they should wait. We have laws guiding us relating to Chieftaincy.”
But a prince in the community, Prince Olujimi Adekanle Lijoka, from the
Oyenusi Ruling House of Irele Kingdom, said his father was the last king in Irele.
“My father comes from the Oyenusi ruling House. The person my father succeeded was from Jagboju ruling. The present king is from Orunbemekun which balance the whole thing.
“When my father was king, some of our family members challenged us that we were not supposed to produce the king because our father was the son of a woman. They claimed they are from the paternity side. They did that when my father was already king. They installed one man but the man ran away. The problem is within Oyenusi family and not other clans. They are claiming the case is in court but we said the case is dead because the Oyenusi has done their turn through my father.
“The kingmakers came together that it is high time the town has a king after five years. The kingmakers asked the Orunbemekun ruling house to produce somebody. The contestants agreed that Ademola should be king. Ademola passed through all the processes. He spent nine days in isolation inside the shrine as part of the ritual to become the king.
“The town was agog because all the kingmakers approved the new king. Security agencies were on ground to monitor the processes. There was no fight. All through the nine days, there was no fight. No chief stood against the installation. Out of the blues, the same group from the Oyenusi ruling House came out to say there is a case in court and that they were supposed to be the king. It is our internal problem and not that of the community.
“The community wrote to the state government about the installation. It is the town that will come in unison to say they have appointed their king. It is not the government that will choose a king for the community. Our people are on standby waiting for who will come and arrest the king. If over 95 percent are with the king, then they are the majority. They are keeping vigilance to see who will take their king.”
Oba Ademola who spoke through his Personnal Assistant, Ode Adewale, said the Irele customs does not require writing any letter to the government about picking a king.
He said: “There is no arrest for now. No one has come to arrest the king. We are trying to settle the matter with the government.
“We do not need to follow any process than to consult the oracle and anybody Ifa oracle picks, is who will be installed as the king. We have never done any contrary to our customs.
“There are some petitions written to the government which have been causing problems. Three person who indicated interest wrote petitions to security agencies.
“We did not write any letter. We do it our way. The whole town will consult the Oracle, anybody picked will be crowned. We have done that. There was no obstruction to the process. We have done it and it is done.
“The youths mobilised to protect their king because he is our choice.”
Ondo Police spokesman, SP Fumilayo Odunlami, confirmed that Oba Ademola was yet to be arrested.
She said the police has commenced the process with a view to effect the arrest.
Some youths of Irele have taken to the social media to mobilise support to protect their long.
Kehinde Aderibile said they would use their last drop of blood to protect their king.
“Mr. Governor is only putting all the candidates of our party into a very dangerous jeopardy in the forthcoming general elections, we are ready to treat them accordingly.
“It must be noted that @ll the King Makers (Afobajes) who have the responsibility of electing an Oba after the rightful family had presented a person and had customarily performed their duty with the Chairman of Local government in attendance, witnessed that, the process was free and fair.”
Akinyomi Arowaroye said: “The installation was peaceful, the Kabiesi is being celebrated by everyone, why all these nonsense?”