Governor Adeleke Sacks Three Notable Osun Monarchs

The Governor Ademola Adeleke-led Osun State Government has ordered a fresh selection process to fill the stools of Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo, having nullified the initial processes.

This is as the government declared the stool of Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olalekan Akadiri vacant, calling on all parties to wait to determine a suit on the stool currently pending before the Court of Appeal.

In a statement obtained on Thursday, Kolapo Alimi, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, said government decisions on the stools were contained in six White Papers on various committees that investigated issues raised by the executive orders issued by the governor, Ademola Adeleke, at the inception of the administration in November 2022.

Adeleke had reversed the appointments of all royal fathers appointed by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the twilight of his tenure.

Some communities across the state where this happened experienced unrest, leading to the loss of at least one life and the destruction of valuables.

He specifically directed Aree of Iree, Oba Ademola Raphael, Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyegba Famoodun and Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Akadiri, to vacate their palaces and ordered investigations into the processes that produced them as monarchs.

The statement partly read, “By the report of the White Paper, all previous steps taken concerning the installation of Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo stands nullified. And that the all-inclusive selection process (es) for a new Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo, respectively, should commence immediately.

“Specifically on Aree of Iree Chieftaincy, the substantive chiefs are enjoined to withdraw their suit before the court to allow for the commencement of the selection process in line with due process and tradition.

“And on the stool of Owa of Igbajo, the White Paper nullified the previous selection process which produced Prince Gboyega Famodun and directed an all-inclusive selection process for a new Owa nominee.

“On the disputed Akirun stool, the White Paper directed that the parties await the outcome of the case before the Court of Appeal. And that the stool remains vacant.

“On other disputed kingship stools, the white paper further recommended compliance with the requirements of the law as in the Alawo stool where the government accepted the committee recommendation that the government should await the outcome of the pending suit before the Supreme Court.”

The government also directed the setting up of a task force for the recovery of government vehicles allegedly taken away by the officials of the immediate past administration in the state.