Ruling Houses Warn Gov. Adeleke Against Tampering with Igbajo Obaship Tradition
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke has been warned not to tamper with the Obaship tradition of Igbajo town in Boluwaduro Local Government area of the state.
The Secretary of Owa Oke-Ode ruling houses on behalf of the residents of the ancient Igbajo town, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemo gave this warning during a press conference organized at the NUJ Press Center, Osogbo on Monday.
The ruling houses who called on well meaning Nigerians including the traditional council to caution Governor Adeleke from wading into selection of Owa of Igbajo said, it is a taboo for them to nominate or select another Owa when the princes from Omo Owa Oke-Ode Ruling House and the kingmakers had already selected Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun as the authentic Owa of Igbajo on November 22nd, 2022.
“We wish to remind Governor Adeleke that his government order as contained in the recently published White Paper for the re-selection process of a new Oba is against the tradition and custom of Igbajo.
“We are making it abundantly clear to Governor Adeleke and the whole world that 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 before the king was announced and installed.
“We are making it explicitly clear that the tradition of installing the Owa of Igbajo cannot be reversed because the traditional rites cannot be performed twice in an Oba’s life time.
“We are stating here unequivocally and convincingly that the order for the re-selection process of another Owa of Igbajo after the selection process of Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun had been concluded in accordance with the Chieftaincy Law of the land is unnecessary and an aberration.
“The re-selection order of Governor Adeleke for another Owa of Igbajo is oppressive, vindictive and vendetta laden and against the rule of law more so when all the agrived princes are already challenging the emergence of Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun in the competent court of law via suit No. HIK/1/2023 in Prince Olaniyi Akande and others including Prince Ademola Makinde, Prince Awodola Tunde and Prince Esan Sunday Vs. The Executive Governor of Osun State and ors.
“We wish to reiterate the fact that Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun remains the duly selected, lawfully appointed and installed occupant of the Owa of Igbajo throne as it is on record that Oba Famodun was selected by the Owa-Oke Ode Ruling House of Igbajo, presented and appointed by the kingmakers and unequivocally approved by the Government of Osun State under the then Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola (now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy), in accordance with the applicable Chiefs Law and Chieftaincy.
“There can only be an Oba in our town at a time and we have duly cleared Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun as the Owa of Igbajo having concluded all necessary rites.
“There has been peace, tranquillity and development in our town, Igbajo, since the enthronement of Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun as the Owa of Igbajo.”
