Presidency, Royal Families Disagree Over Appointment Of Tinubu’s ADC As Elemona

President Bola Tinubu’s Aide-De-Camp, ADC, Lt Col. Nurudeen Yusuf has been confirmed by the Presidency as the new Elemona of Ilemona land in Oyun local government area of Kwara state.

His appointment followed the demise of his father, late Oba Yusuf Omokanye Oyekanmi, the former Elemona in May.

The people of Ilemona, as expressed by the community’s kingmakers, picked Yusuf as their new traditional ruler.

A statement from the presidency, noted that apart from being the heir apparent to the throne, the people of Ilemona have expressed admiration for Lt Col Yusuf for his acts of kindness and humanitarian gestures to the community and environs in the last few years.

Having received due authorization as stated and required by the traditional, custom and ethics of the Nigerian army, the ADC accepted the decision of his people as the incoming Elemona of Ilemona, the statement said.

The statement also said that after the approval of the Kwara state governor and ratification of the state’s traditional council of chiefs, the presidential ADC is to be presented staff of office by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Saturday, 13th of July, 2024.

His Royal Highness, Oba Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, Fiwadade Ilufemiloye Oyekanmi the second, the Elemona of Ilemona land, upon his installation, is to appoint regents on the throne until he retires from the military service, the Presidency stated on Friday.

 

Royal Families Kick Against Yusuf

Meanwhile, royal families in Oyun local government, Kwara State, have kicked against the appointment of Lt. Col. Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, as the new king of Ilemona.

According to the Guardian, some members of the royal families are protesting the appointment of the president’s aide.

They claimed that they were excluded from the selection process while also insisting that they were also entitled to the vacant seat.

A member of the royal families, Prince Afeez Adewale of the Shittu ruling house, in a statement made available to The Guardian on Friday, said the appointment of Yusuf is an exploitation of his family’s right to become the next King of Ilẹmọna town.

He explained that two ruling lineages exist in Ilemona town, namely the Arolu ruling house and the Ogobi family.

Several attempts to contact the President’s aide to speak on the matter were unsuccessful as phone calls put to him did not go through and messages sent to him were not replied.

“The Arolus are Omokanye, Shittu, Atoyebi, and Oyeyemi While Ogobis consisted of Ajagba Adeyemi, Ibitoye, Adeyemo, Oyebukola, Olarinoye and Adeleke before we were graded to third class by late ex-governor of Kwara state, Muhammad Lawal during the late Oba Omokanye Yusuf tenure. Oba Omokanye is the biological father of the ADC Yusuf Nurudeen,” the family said.

He alleged that other members of the royal family except that of the president’s aide were not involved in the nomination process, urging the government to do thorough investigation on the matter to avoid Injustice.

He stated: “All the listed ruling families both in Arolu and Ogobi are not involved in the nomination of the candidate except that of the late Yusuf Omokanye only. The process is already compromised, and it violated the selection process. Out of four kingmakers, three seats are vacant till today. I wonder where he singlehandedly started his selection process.

“This is abuse of office by the ADC. We want to make it crystal clear that it’s not ADC Nurudeen Yusuf’s turn, his late father was the immediate past king. The Obaship should go to another ruling family.

“Above all we call on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as a father not to involve themselves in this kind of shabby nomination.”