By Shina Abubakar
Indigenes of Ifetedo, Ife-South Local Government have been assured of a transparent process in the selection of another monarch to fill the vacant stool of the Olubosin of Ifetedo.
Balogun of Ifetedo, High Chief Akin Akinrera, gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen during the Interdenominational Service organised by the community in honour of the late monarch, Oba Isaac Adebare Ilori, who became Oba at the age of 76 in 2010, and passed on after 8 years of eventful reign.
He said the legacy of peace left behind by Oba Adebare would be sustained.
Akinrera said:” I contested the stool with the late Oba Adebare but he was made an Oba in November, 2010.
“The monarch that reigned before him created crisis in Ifetedo. So, upon his demise, we could not move forward for two years. Oba Adebare did not say because I contested with him, two months after he was made an Oba, he elevated me from the position of lesser chief I was.
“Unknown to me, he had good plans for me. He wanted an elite in major position of authority and his plans worked out well. Few months after my elevation, the next in rank to Olubosin died and I was made Balogun.
“According to 1959 Chieftaincy Declaration guiding emergence of Oba in Ifetedo, when an Olubosin joins his ancestors, Balogun automatically becomes Olubosin. I appeal to our people to ensure the legacy of peace and large heartedness left behind by late Oba Adebare is sustained.
“I have promised to keep Ifetedo together in peace as done by the late Oba Adebare. It is tough call but we owe the memory of our late monarch that duty.”
Speaking in similar vein, the chairman, Ifetedo Progressive Union (IPU), Mr. Gbenga Ojuade and Hon Folorunsho Bamisayemi, the member representing Ife South State Consistency in the Osun House of Assembly, said Oba Adebare’s peaceful stance, saved the town from crises when it was thrown into darkness for almost three years.
Ojuade said: “for three years, we were in darkness in this town. Our people could not bear it again at a point, but late Oba Adebare insisted they should not resort to violence. He managed the situation well. May God rest his soul, amen. We will miss him.
Meanwhile, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been urged to relocate more colleges of Osun state University (UNIOSUN) to Ifetedo, the headquarters of Ife South local government area of the state, the town which currently hosts the institution’s Faculty of Law.
This, according to the Executive Secretary, Ife South local government area, Mr. Ayodeji Adegbite, will enable residents of the host community to feel the full impact of having a university campus in the town.
