Famodun’s Removal As Owa Of Igbajo Politically Motivated-Osun APC.. Traditional Rites Can’t Be Performed Twice –Ruling Houses

 Osun state APC has condemned the nullification of the selection process that produced Prince Adegboyega Famodun as  Owa of Igbajoland by the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration describing this as vindictive, frivolous, and an abuse of the governorship power.

Recall that the state government  had on Thursday  released six  important white papers, five on  committees that investigated matters raised through  the executive orders issued by  Governor Ademola Adeleke at the start of his administration in November 2022, as well as  the White paper on Education Summit.

The  state government had also  noted that the White Papers earlier approved by the State Executive Council were finally ratified after a further review by a special committee chaired by Governor Adeleke in line with his promise to ensure due process, in-depth consultation and compliance with the rule of law.

The white paper had also recommended fresh selection process in Igbajo.

‘In line with the report of the White Paper, all previous steps taken in relation to the installation of  new Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo stand nullified. And that an all-inclusive selection process(es) for a new Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo, respectively, should commence immediately’ Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, who is the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment,, submitted in a statement issued in Osogbo on Thursday.. 

The state  APC chairman , Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement made available to  Team@orientactualmags.com by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, on Friday asked  Governor Adeleke if he was not aware that the aggrieved Igbajo princes, who had contested and lost in the contest , had filed a suit in the Osun State High Court and that the governor himself is a defendant in the said suit to which he has filed processes to challenge the competence of the suit?

‘It is strange that Governor Adeleke, notwithstanding the pendency of the suit, keeps hounding, humiliating and denying Oba Famodun his rights.

The purported nullification of the process that produced the Owa of Igbajoland by the governor is a legal absurdity with a metaphorical foot of clay, waiting to fall like a pack of cards.

Governor Adeleke’s approach to the  issue flagrantly offends the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which allows for separation of powers between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

Those who are thinking for Governor Adeleke should cover their faces in shame for encouraging him to be a judge in a case where he is a defendant.

If this was going to be the outcome of his obnoxious Executive Order on the obaship matter, why did it take Adeleke so long a time to come up with such a trash?

The fact remains that the nullification of Oba Famodun’s emergence, which followed a due process, was bound to fail and it has failed’ the statement said.

In separate statement, the Owa Oke-Ode Ruling Houses in  Igbajo  have  also unanimously faulted the nullification of the selection process  that produced Prince Adegboyega Famodun as Owa of Igbajoland.

 The statement noted that members of the Omo Owa Oke-Ode numbering sixteen  met on Thursday night  and in the resolutions of the meeting which was  signed by High Chief Adewumi Taiwo, the Babaloye Akeran  of Igbajoland; Prince Adeniyi Adeyemo, Secretary of   Omo Owa Oke-Ode Ruling House of Igbajo and fourteen others, they submitted that  the kingmakers had selected Oba Philip Adegboyega Famodun as the authentic Owa of Igbajo on  November 22, 2022.

‘All the due processes were followed in accordance with the Chieftaincy Law of the land for the selection starting from the ruling houses to the kingmakers to the local government and to the state government before the new king was announced and installed.

The tradition of installing the Owa of Igbajo cannot be reversed because the traditional rites cannot be performed twice.

All the aggrieved princes are already challenging the emergence of Oba Philips Adegboyega Famodun in the competent court of law via suit No. HIK/1/2023. Prince Olaniyi Akande and ors Vs The Executive Governor of Osun State and Ors.

We appeal to the government not to disturb the peace and tranquility the town has been enjoying for years and that the tradition and culture of Igbajoland are sacred and must be sustained.

During the installation of the Owa of Igbajo, all the sons and daughters including the non-indigenes of Igbajo trooped out for the celebration’ the ruling houses submitted-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you