(The Precision NG) High Chief Raji Sanni Olujase, the Head of Ipele Kingmakers and Chairman of Ipele Traditional Council says there are deliberate efforts by some politicians to frustrate the selection process of a new King in the town.
Ipele is a town located in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State and has been without a monarch for Six years.
Chief Olujase during a press conference at his palace in Ipele on Thursday called on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to intervene in the matter.
Chief Olujase also used the occasion to congratulate Akeredolu on his victory at the Supreme Court.
“Before we go into the matter fully, we of Ipele Community, heartily congratulate Mr. Governor on his recent victory at the Supreme Court over the October 2020 governorship election. We pray that his Second Term in office shall bring a huge development to our state. We equally thank Mr Governor for the various developmental projects Ipele enjoyed during his first Term in office.
“We wish to remind Mr. Governor that the immediate past Olupele, Oba Abel Alade passed on over six years ago. Since then the Ipele Kingmakers have been looking forward to selecting a new Oba in the interest of peace and development of Ipele,” he said.
He reminded the Governor that the selection process of the new Olupele has suffered so much negligence. He said the Kingmakers want the Governor to come to their aid as one Oke Adebayo has been going around to frustrate the resumption of the selection process by threatening them.
“During the last regime, the authorities of Owo Local Government initiated the process of selecting the next Oba in collaboration with the Ondo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs twice. But some individuals frustrated the efforts with thuggery and violence.
“The Ipele Traditional Council in February this year paid a courtesy call on the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN) and informed him of the negative effects of not filling the vacant stool of Olupele on the social and economic sectors of the town, including insecurity and loss of economic resources to some unauthorized non-indigenes.
“We wish to inform our peace-loving Governor that in the last few weeks, repeated efforts made by the concerned authorities to resume the process are being frustrated again by some individuals who are apparently scared of transparent selection process.
“The latest development is that the Owo Local Government Authorities recently invited the Ipele Kingmakers to meet with His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of the state, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on the way forward. At the meeting, the Deputy Governor appealed to the Kingmakers to allow for peaceful selection and promised that the process would be free, fair and transparent.”
Chief Olujase further wish to inform the Governor and the general public about the following developments and realities on ground:
Related: Initiate Selection Process Of New Olupele Before Election – Kingmakers Tell Akeredolu
That one former Caretaker Chairman of Owo Local Government, Mr. Oke Adebayo popularly known as “Geree” approached them with a huge amount of money in support of a contestant in the Obaship race. Mr. Adebayo described the candidate as “Government Candidate”.
That the Kingmakers vehemently rejected the offer made by Mr. Oke Adebayo because Ipele Tradition and Spiritual Order forbid a compromised Obaship selection process. The Kingmakers are honest, noble and elderly men of integrity, and cannot sell their conscience because of the consequences of yielding to such an abomination.
That Mr. Oke Adebayo has vowed and threatened that since the Kingmakers rejected the offer, Ipele Community would not have a substantive Oba during the Second Term of Our Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration.
That Mr. Oke Adebayo should be called to order and investigated by our Mr. Talk- and-Do Governor as we still believe that he would be neutral in the Ipele Obaship selection process as he assured us in February this year.
That one of the Obaship contestants has been making different crooked moves to frustrate the selection process since the Kingmakers rejected the said inducement.
That our Governor should please, fulfill his promise to be neutral and intervene in this matter as a matter of urgency to save Ipele from this problem once and for all in the interest of peace, justice and fairness.
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