Battle over Akiru stool unsettles royal family

The Gboleru Ruling Family, which was chosen to nominate the next king of Ikirun in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun state, is divided over its choice for the vacant stool of Akirun. Some elders from the ruling family, led by Prince Gboyega Olatunji had nominated Prince Tajudeen Adesegun as the sole candidate for the […]

The Gboleru Ruling Family, which was chosen to nominate the next king of Ikirun in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun state, is divided over its choice for the vacant stool of Akirun.

Some elders from the ruling family, led by Prince Gboyega Olatunji had nominated Prince Tajudeen Adesegun as the sole candidate for the position of Akirun but another set of elders from the family led by Prince Bakare Olaniyan faulted the nomination.

Olaniyan, who spoke through the Yeyemeso of Ikirun, Chief (Mrs) Wosilat Tinuke Macarthy, said the family has not agreed to present Adesegun as its candidate for the Akirun throne.

Macarthy said the family recently got acquainted with Adesegun who lives abroad and that he has not been contributing to the family until when the late Oba Rauf Olayiwola Adedeji died.

But Adesegun Gboleru, who is based in Canada, said he is eminently qualified and that he has been contributing to the town and the family. He also said Chief Macarthy is not from Ikirun but from Offa in Kwara state.

Speaking with Eko Trust at the family house in Ikirun on Tuesday, Macarthy said Prince Gboyega Olatunji, who nominated Adesegun, is a bonafide son of the Gboleru Family and that he was the initial choice of the family.

She said there are 10 qualified princes from the family who are interested in becoming the next Akirun and that they would be presented to the state government at the appropriate time.

“Adesegun cannot be the next Akirun. He is not qualified to be Akirun. His nomination by Prince Gboyega Olatunji was wrong and cannot stand. We have many qualified princes that would be nominated for the Akirun stool very soon,” Macarthy said.

Reacting to the development, Prince Adesegun said Chief Macarthy did not want him to become the next Oba because she wants someone she can control.

Adesegun said: “I have contributed to the family. I want to be the next king to help my hometown. I have been contributing to the family and the town. I have my companies in the town for decades. Chief Wosilat Tinuke Macarthy is opposing me because she knows that she would not be able to control me when I become Akirun. She prefers a candidate she can control. That’s why she doesn’t want me and she is using some elders in the family to achieve her desire.”

The stool had been vacant since the demise of His Royal Majesty (HRM) Late Oba Abdulrauf Adedeji II in February.