Kazeem Badmus
THERE is anxiety over the stool of Owa of Igbajo, a community in Boluwaduro local government of the State of Osun.
The stool became vacant in 2020 after the demise of Oba Olufemi Fasade, Akeran IV.
Ruling houses in the town have been making claims to the stool as the next in line to produce a new traditional ruler.
But one of the ruling houses, Owa lloro (Agbon), raised the alarm on Monday that the State Chairman of the APC, Prince Gboyega Famodun, was trying to use his position to become the new traditional ruler of the town.
The ruling house alleged that some people are trying to impose Famodun at the expense of Owa lloro ruling house which is next to produce the new Owa of Igbajo.
In an open letter to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, the ruling house alleged plots to manipulate executive and judicial processes to ‘stage-manage and unduly interfere with the Obaship’.
According to the letter jointly signed by the Head of the ruling house, Chief Aderemi Adeife Latilo, and its Acting Secretary of the house, Prince Taye Abodunrin, the family had instituted a suit registered: HIK/10/2021 before an Ikirun High Court to claim that it is its turn to present candidate to fill the vacant stool.
The letter reads in part: “Since the institution of this case, the matter has been active and kicking with filling and exchange of processes by parties with the last one filed a few days ago by our counsel in response to the ones filed by adverse parties with about four hearing dates already attended to.
“Of interest is the recent application for joinder dated 18th August 2022 by a member of Owa Oke-Ode (Akeran) Ruling House in the person of Prince Adegoke Paul Olaniyi Akande, who is a brother to Prince Gboyega Famodun.
“About two weeks ago, information filtered across the community of lgbajo that a strategic/high-level meeting was held in Osogbo where some resolutions were made and assurances given to Prince Gboyega Famodun that everything would be done to actualise making him or any nominee of his choice the Owa of igbajo on or before the exit of the present government on the 27th of November 2022.
“Members of Owa Oke-Ode Ruling House resorted to wild jubilation in the community that the influence of their son Prince Gboyega Famodun would come into play in their favour.
“We started beaming our eagle eyes in all areas to see whether the plan and resolution to unduly favour Prince Gboyega Famodun of Owa Oke Ode Ruling House would start to materialise or not.
“Alas, we received the highest shock of our life when we suddenly learnt two days ago that our case pending before Hon. Justice Adeleke of Ikirun High Court had been recalled by Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State for re-assignment without any clear complaint or reason from any of the parties in the suit.”
The ruling house stated that the re-assignment of the suit to another judge outside the original jurisdiction of Ikirun High Court cannot be justified under whatever guise except with premeditated intention to achieve a targeted result in favour of the APC Chairman, Famodun.
“This is because Hon. Justice Adeleke of Ikirun High Court who presently presides over the matter is not on vacation, indisposed or in any way unable to adjudicate over the matter to warrant the planned re-assignment”, said the ruling house
It had earlier been speculated that Famodun would be crowned the new Owa of Igbajo after the second term election of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, which was believed he would win.
