Obaship Tussle: Ibese kingmakers meet Ogun Govt, deny imposition of candidate

Kingmakers and the head of ruling houses in Ibese, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have met with the government officials over the obaship tussle in the community. The Chairman of the kingmakers, Chief Tajudeen Aremu Adewuyi, led some leaders of Ibeseland to a meeting with the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy […]

Kingmakers and the head of ruling houses in Ibese, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have met with the government officials over the obaship tussle in the community.

The Chairman of the kingmakers, Chief Tajudeen Aremu Adewuyi, led some leaders of Ibeseland to a meeting with the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, at the state secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, coming barely 24 hours after a group of resident protested alleged imposition of a candidate as an Oba-elect of Ibese.

The protesters comprising youths, women and community leaders, in their hundreds, warned the government not to set the community on fire over the plan to install “wrong candidate.”

In a counter-move, Adewuyi flanked by the Heads of the two ruling houses, Pa. Nasir Oniyide from the Oloko, and Alhaji Sulaimon Oladitan from the Alangbo family, and other chiefs met with the Commissioner, saying the protesters were all out to propagate lies against what he called “most transparent selection process.”

Speaking with newsmen, Adewuyi who is also Somofe of Ibeseland, said contrary to the allegations selection of the Oba elect was in 2019 wherein Prince Rotimi Mulero won after scoring three out of four votes of the kingmakers, while Adedimeji Azeez Idowu had one vote.

According to him, four aspirants, Adedimeji Azeez Idowu, Alexander Aliu Adegbenro Idowu, Saibu Adekunle Mustapha and Rotimi Mulero.

He said those protesters were from one of 11 units that made up of the Oloko ruling house, next in line to produce the new monarch.

“There was no imposition, election was conducted on four aspirants. Six nominates from the family, two withdrawn and one was selected out of the four having secured three out of four votes.

“Those who alleged kangaroo selection had one votes, even others who could not secure any vote did not protest. So, there is nothing like imposition. Everything went through the normal process,” he said.

He, however, asked government to hold the protesters threatening violence accountable in the event of any break down of law and order in the community.

Adewuyi said “Some people are gaining from our pains in Ibeseland, maybe they are the people pushing them to protest and scatter the whole thing. I am happy they came here themselves that what happened at Agodo will be a child’s play. It is a threat and if anything happens there, government knows who to hold responsible.

“Is kingship a do or die affair? We did not meddle in the affairs of the family. That’s why I am here with the head of the family.”