…No plan to impose anybody-Govs Aide
..appointment of Awujale has a laid down process and will be followed accordingly- Akinmade,Special Adviser on Information
Barely three weeks after the passage of late Ijebu longest reigning monarch,Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, tongues are already wagging over alleged plot by the state government to impose one of its Commissioners, Honourable Dapo Okubanjo as the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
The alleged Commissioner is from the Funsegunwa ruling House which is next in line to produce a new monarch.
Newdawnngr.com sources revealed that as part of its moves to have its way,the state government has restricted access to the palace to prevent chiefs from holding meeting there as is the normal practice.
Instead,the government is alleged to have ignored all chiefs while a handful of them are being surreptitiously encouraged with funds to perform traditional rites in the ancient town which stool dates back to the early 14th century.
Apart from above, the stakeholders are also accusing the state government of stalling attempts to appoint a regent.
But in an exclusive interview with Newdawnngr.com,Honourable Kayode Akinmade,Special Adviser to the Governor on Information dismissed such allegations as handiwork of those not conversant with normal processes of the appointment of a new Oba.
He stated that before the government gives the go ahead,the traditional chiefs have to formally inform the local government which will in turn inform the ministry of local government and chieftancy Affairs of the passage of the traditional ruler.
The ministry,he added would in turn take the necessary steps as stipulated by the rules..that is declare the stool vacant.
Said he, “Awujale stool is not something that can be appropriated by anybody.
There is a process to be followed and it is too early in the day for anybody to talk of government plotting to impose.
They also have to mourn Kabiyesi and not to indulge in politics.”
Akinmade said that after the chiefs have duly informed the local government in writing about the demise of the monarch and vacancy of the stool, the ministry of local government and chieftancy affairs will start the process of selecting the new Oba and thereafter send the names of the nominees from the next ruling house to the state executive council for confirmation.
As for him,those spreading the rumour are politicians out to score points.
It will be recalled that the late monarch himself declared some years ago prior to his 90th birthday anniversary that his burial and appointment of his successor should not be politicized.
But Newdawnngr.com sources revealed that part of the surreptitious moves of the government is to influence the choice of a regent to the throne.
There have been reports that a topmost medical doctor Olorogun Sunny Kuku has been chosen as the regent but this was denied by stakeholders saying,”no regent has so far been appointed.”
Speaking further, Akinmade dismissed the insinuation of attempt by Governor Dapo Abiodun to install one of his own adding, “as a Prince himself he knows the process and will not undermine it. ”
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“It is on record that he is one of the Governors in the state that has promoted peace and unity of all the sections and won’t be seeing to undermine it he added further.
He said that the serving Commissioner is a gentleman who would nit jump the gun to attain such position.
The late Ijebu monarch,Oba Sikiru Adetona
For now,the appointment of a new monarch is being subjected to pressure by traditionalists and modern religious faithfuls who cried foul over the way the late monarch was interred.
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While traditionalists criticised non- observant of due process,religious faithfuls point to preference of the late monarch to be buried according to Islamic injunction as a devout moslem, a practice which traditionalists claimed is ancient in Yoruba traditional institution.
As a result, the choice of a new monarch has become a subject of discuss among the stakeholders and citizens who are sharply divided over perceived incursion of modern religious practice in the traditional institution.
