By Oludamisi Ojo.
The Owa-In-Council and the Kingmakers of Igbajo in Osun state have urged the new Governor of the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke to guard against the disruption of peace and tranquillity existing in the historic town of Igbajo after the installation of the new Owa of Igbajoland Oba Adegboyega Famodun.

In a press statement signed by the Kingmakers, the kingmakers affirmed that the process that produced the king followed all laid down guidelines in the Owa of Igbajo Chieftaincy Declaration.

The new Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyega Famodun was until a penultimate week, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state.

The statement noted that the declaration that has been in use in the town recognizes two lineages Viz Omo Owa Oke (with nine ruling houses) and Omo Owa Isale (with seven ruling houses).

“What the Chieftaincy Declaration stipulate is that if the throne becomes vacant, it will be either the turn of Owa Oke or Owa Isale to fill the vacancy without specifying any order of rotation among the ruling houses.

” The Last Owa Late Oba Olufemi Fasade who joined his ancestors on the 23rd of December, 2020 was from the Owa Isale side while it was only ruling houses from Owa Oke that were asked to bring forth Omo Oye before we picked the frontline amongst them.

“Please note that there was nowhere in the declaration that states that it is this or that ruling house that must be favoured but rather all the interested Princes were given a level playing ground before the emergence of one” the statement stressed.

On the claim that the former Governor Oyetola appointed the king in his last week in office, this is not the first time such will happen because he has the power and authority to take decisions till his last day in office.
It recalled the appointment of Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Kayode Oyedotun, Bibire 1 at the twilight of the administration of the corner Governor Adebisi Akande.

The outgoing Governor then, Chief Akande approved the selection of Oba Abdulwahab Kayode Oyedotun, Bibire 1 four days before the expiration of his tenure he was appointed on the 24th of May, 2003 while the administration left office on 29th of May, 2003.

His predecessor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola did not because of that annul the appointment.
On the announcement of the appointment or selection of Oba Adegboyega Famodun, the statement noted that nobody can say that “a fly was hurt in Igbajo”

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“We all accepted his choice because we know it is only God that chooses kings. The presentation of the Staff of the Office followed three days after the completion of the traditional rites and the Ipebi program.

“Visitors to Igbajo on Thursday 24th of November, 2022 will clearly see the joy and happiness radiating within the town and its people; it was unprecedented.

“Our appeal to Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke is that he should not allow anyone to drag him into messy politics as the selection of our own Oba Adegboyega Famodun followed all laid down procedures. Igbajo the Citadel of the Brave is known for peaceful coexistence and communal cooperation in the running of the affairs of the town.

“We built our first secondary school in 1951 through communal efforts and this also gingered us to having the first Community Polytechnic in Nigeria (Igbajo Polytechnic).

“The government should not lump us with anyone else in decisions such as there is peace in our town and villages.

The statement was signed by four prominent traditional chiefs including Odofin Iloro of Igbajo,
Lemikan of Igbajo, Odofin Igbajo, and Saloro of Igbajo.