Protest In Osun Over Alleged Plan To Impose New Monarch

• Sodiq Lawal

Scores of protesters who are indigenes of the Ifon community, headquarters of Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State on Thursday, September 21, stormed the state secretariat, Abere to protest against the planned imposition of the new monarch on the community.

It was gathered that the protesters marched in their numbers to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs with placards bearing several inscriptions like; “Don’t impose Moronfolu Ruling House on Us, Olufon stool is not for sale, Don’t impose on us Governor Adeleke, Allow us to decide our king and many more.”

They claimed that the government and some of its officials are planning to use outlawed Chieftaincy Declarations to appoint a new king, despite the fact that the 1979 Declarations have been used to select kings in the past.

While speaking, the leader of the protesters who is an heir to the throne, Prince Adegboyega Oyedeji from Odunolu Ruling House explained that, “the government acted on a declaration that had been outlawed by Justice Olowoofeku in suit number HOS/127/88 which the judgement was never appealed till today.

“We are here to draw the attention of the peace-loving governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, and other stakeholders in the evil being perpetrated by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter through the collaboration of the Permanent Secretary and some officials from the Ministry of Justice because the last administration of Oyetola wrote us (Odunolu) to produce the next king based on 1979 Chieftaincy Declaration.

“Unfortunately, the Moronfolu ruling house challenged it in court that we should use the outlaw declaration and the matter is in court till now. Amidst the court tussle, the Osun government has written the same ruling house that challenged us in court. Government should allow the court to decide before acting.”

Speaking on the incident, the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, said, “The letter issued was based on the information that they had settled out of court, but they should file a formal petition, and I am confident that they will receive justice.”