- See Video Of How Five Out Of 13 Kingmakers Ensured The Emergence Of The New Owa Obokun
It is no longer news that the governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has officially endorsed the selection of Prince Clement Adesuyi Haastrup as the new Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijeshaland.
However, the brave people of Ijeshaland will not forget December 27, 2024 in a hurry because it is on record that it was the day five kingmakers out of 13 voted to usher in the new Owa Obokun Adimula of their nativeland.
PMParrot’s investigation revealed that the intrigues and what can best be described as serious political chicanery preceded the emergence of the new Owa Obokun.
It was gathered that seven strategic kingmakers including Lejoka, Arapate, Ogboni Ilesa, Oba Odo, Obaala, Odole and Lejofi were out-rightly and officially disqualified from being part of the processes to vote for the new traditional ruler of Ijeshaland.
One of these ‘disqualified’ kingmakers, the Obaala is supposed to be the Head of the Kingmakers.
A source close to the Kingmakers informed PMParrot that 13 kingmakers were statutorily required to participate in the voting processes.
Continued our source “The position of the Saloro was vacant but in order to perfect the moves by the powers-that-be, a ‘warrant kingmaker’ in the person of Akogun Abimbola Aluko was hurriedly appointed. He then joined the official five earlier anointed after the disqualification of the seven kingmakers.” (See letter of appointment of the warrant kingmaker here)
Along the line, one of the ‘official-six’ that were asked to vote, Risawe gave excuse and stayed away leaving only five kingmakers who eventually ‘voted’ for the new monarch. (See video here).
Another independent source informed PMParrot that the three notable Princes who led others in the contest for the Owa Adimula stool are people who never participated or identified with anything that had to do with Ijeshaland in the past couple of decades.
Said our source “the selected Prince Clement Adesuyi Haastrup is 76 years old and his cousin from the same Bilaro Oluodo ruling house is 72. Both never participated in what we have been doing for Ijeshaland in over 20 years.
“The other prince from the Ofokutu branch of Bilaro Ruling House who is a professor is 82 years old and was reported to have said that he was only interested in the Owa Stool for prestige’s sake adding that he would not mind even if he reigns for only a week.
“All of them do not have the interest of Ijeshaland at heart. They are just fighting to satisfy the ‘master’ who is also interested in the gold that we have in abundance in Ijeshaland.”
Another source informed PMParrot that four prominent Ijeshaland indigenes were asked by ‘the master’ to carry out the ‘coup’ against their own people.
Lateef Bakare, an ijesa indigene, Sunday Biṣi, Osun state PDP chairman, Dosu Babatunde, Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Ibukun Fadipe Ọlọka, SUBEB Chairman in the state were all fingered.
‘These are the folks who masterminded the illegal emergence of Adesuyi Haastrup. And, unfortunately for them, the matter is even in court and what they have done is in contempt of the court.”
A prominent Ijesha businessman who craved for anonymity submitted to PMParrot: “A new Owa Obokun has purportedly emerged. The question here is how??? There’s generally a 13-Member Kingmakers (Afobaje) in IjesaLand. While a member’s seat is currently vacant (Saloro-Orunde), a warrant officer was substituted.
“Risawe was visibly absent and Seven Kingmakers were disqualified – from doing what may be their most important duty in their respective roles. Now, some may be happy, that their candidate has emerged.
“Me, I do not have a particular candidate. I just love our tradition so much and recognize that its survival and sustainability rest solely upon due process being followed”.
Another source who seemed to be in support of the emergence of Prince Adesuyi Haastrup categorically explained to PMParrot that it would be in the best interest of Ijeshaland for the new Owa Obokun Adimula be allowed to peacefully settle down to work.
Said the source “what will they gain by disrupting the processes that have been endorsed by His Excellency, the governor of Osun State? Do they want the stool to remain vacant forever? My candid advice to those that are not happy with the emergence of Prince Adesuyi Haastrup is that they should approach a competent court of law. They should not call for anarchy. We need our peace in Ijeshaland and indeed, in Osun State.”
In the meantime, Governor Ademola Adeleke has officially approved the appointment of Prince Adesuyi Haastrup as the new Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijeshaland.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi on Friday, stated that the approval of the monarch was ratified and approved during the seating of the Osun State Executive Council Meeting presided over by the governor on Friday.
Earlier, the Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House announced the emergence of Haastrup as the Owa-elect, having polled majority votes when the kingmakers voted. It was gathered that the meeting where Haastrup emerged was at the premises of Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat.Alimi, in his statement, further said that the “appointment of Prince Haastrup as the new Owa-elect was sequel to the demise of the immediate past Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesha land, Oba ( Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II on September 11, 2024.
Attempts by PMParrot to speak with the spokesperson for Governor Ademola Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed did not yield any result as his WhatsApp contact and regular line were not reachable. Messages sent to him were not responded to too.
Packaged by Alice Egbedele
