By Adeboye Ado, Akure
Following the current wrangling trailing the selection process of new Olujare of Ijare, the Head of Kingmakers and Sapetu of Ijare in Ifedore local government area of Ondo State, High Chief Wemimo Olaniran, has reacted to the crisis.
This is as some key players have been dragged to court for unlawful exclusion of some candidates to the throne such as Prince Kola Oyewole.
Some princes from a section of the Sejeokun Ruling House and some indigenes of the town as well as the Chairman of Ifedore local government, Engr Alex Oladimeji had alleged that the Sapetu who is the second in-command to Olujare, of frustrating the process from being concluded on time.
However reacting, High Chief Olaniran who set the records straight through a press release on Tuesday, said he was not working for anybody but only calling for a level play field for all contestants from all branches of the Royal House.
The Sapetu noted that the process was going on well until a section of Sejeokun Royal House wrote a second letter to purportedly screened out 9 out of 13 candidates, despite the fact that the first letter from the same Royal House cleared the 13 contestants.
The Kingmaker pointed out that the first letter was duly signed by the Head of the family, Chief Oluwole Oni (Aarinmo) and others, while the second letter was not signed by authorized headship of the family.
The Sapetu explained that the exclusion led to a litigation by Olukekere stock of Sejeokun Ruling House which filed a suit in the Ondo State High Court, Akure Division challenging the exclusion of the name of the only contestant (Prince Kola Oyewole) put forward by them in the contest.
High Chief Olaniran said “Olukekere stock (of Sejeokun Ruling House) filed a suit in the Ondo State High Court, Akure Division challenging the exclusion of the name of the only contestant put forward by them in the said letter of 13th June, 2023, praying the Court to grant an injunction stopping any further action on the selection/ election exercise (of new Olujare).
“Okilorigbokun stock wrote a letter through their lawyer to me dated 20th June, 2023 dissociating their linage of the Sejeokun Ruling House from the said letter (excluding some contestants).
“Notwithstanding his membership of Adamoyoyo stock, Prince Salami Shittu Fatai, a contestant from the Adamoyoyo stock, wrote a letter dated 3rd July, 2023 rejecting the said letter (excluding some contestants), because his name was not therein contained.
“Flowing from all the above stated facts, particularly the action pending in the High Court challenging the letter of presentation dated 13th June, 2023, could I have done anything when it is overtly clear that the Centre is not yet holding in the Sejeokun Ruling House, as a man of honour.
“All the while the Executive Chairman of lfedore Local Government, (Engr Alex Oladimeji) did not hide his interest in the selection/election process, taking steps to make things go the way he wants as against the provision of the Olujare Chieftaincy Declaration, the custom and tradition misrepresenting the neutral position of the State Government on the exercise – claiming that the Government is interested.
“Therefore I make bold to say that I have not in any way or manner attempted to use my position to unduly influence the selection/ election process of a new Olujare of ljare, all I continue to pray for dispassionately is that all the lineages of the Sejeokun Ruling House and the contestants should be given a level playing ground to ensure fairness, equity and justice,” Sapetu said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ifedore Local Government in Ondo State, Hon. Alex Oladimeji, had cautioned stakeholders especially kingmakers and Princes who are candidates battling to become the next Olujare of Ijare Community to stop dragging his name into the selection process.
The Council Boss noted that he had no power to impose new monarch on the town considering various Chieftaincy laws in the state.
Reacting to the allegation that he was sponsoring one of the candidates, Oladimeji insisted that the allegation against him was unfounded and baseless.
Olujare’s stool became vacant two years ago when Oba Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun, Kokotiri II, joined his ancestors.
