Owa, Family Bicker Over Installation Of New Odole Of Ilesa
The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, and the Odole Owa family in Ilesa have traded words over the removal of High Chief Adebola Orolugbagbe as the Odole of Ilesa.
Chief Orolugbagbe was removed last week by the Owa Obokun and replaced with a new Odole of Ilesa, High Chief Makanjuola Afolabi.
However, the Odole family rejected the removal of Orolugbagbe and the subsequent installation of Chief Afolabi.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary of the family, Pastor Olumide Asaolu, a copy obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, only the state government has the power to remove the Odole.
The statement noted that the Odole title is a recognised chieftaincy under Part 2 of the Chief Law and only the governor has the statutory power to approve the selection of and removal of the Odole of Ilesa.
The family, while rejecting the appointment of Chief Afolabi as the new Odole, said Chief Orolugbagbe was not accused of any wrongdoing, and the government has not notified it of any plan to remove him as Odole of Ilesa.
“This is to state categorically that Royal High Chief Adebola Oyeleye Orolugbagbe remains the Odole of Ilesa. The Odole chieftaincy is a recognised chieftaincy under Part 2 of the Chief Law and therefore, there is a laid down procedure under the law for the removal of a sitting occupier and installation of a new occupier.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is only the state government through the governor that is statutorily empowered to approve the selection of an Odole and also approve his removal after following due process.
“There is no other authority under the law that is empowered to do so. As far as the entire Odole family is concerned, but for a few disgruntled members, Chief Adebola Orolugbagbe has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and the government has not notified it of any plan to remove Chief Orolugbagbe as Odole of Ilesa.
“Therefore, any purported installation of any other person by whatever name as Odole of Ilesa is not only unconditional but also unlawful and consequently null and void,” the statement stated.
But reacting to the statement from the Odole family, Owa Haastrup insisted that Orolugbagbe is no longer the Odole of Ilesa.
A statement by the Personal Secretary to Owa, John Abe, said the selection of Orolugbagbe as the Odole by late Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Dr. Gabriel Aromolaran was not rectified by the state government before the demise of the monarch.
The palace said, “We state without any equivocation that the governor will only approve the selection and appointment of Odole whenever Owa Obokun of Ijesaland completes the selection process and notifies the state government.
The former Odole, High Chief Ayinde Oladele Jeje, who is the last Odole of Ilesa in the government’s record, was made the substantive Odole upon the notification of the government by Oba Dr. Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran.
Oba. Dr. Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran has not notified the state government of the completion of the selection of Mr Adebola Orolugbagbe before his demise, despite the length of the intervening period.
“Consequently, Mr. Adebola Orolugbagbe remained an ordinary person, consequent upon which he was unable to vote during the process of the selection of Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup as Owa Obokun Adimula. Therefore, Mr Adebola Orolugbagbe’s claim to any title is unrealistic and delusional.”
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
