Kingmakers from Isolo, a community in Akure, Ondo State, have said that the installation of their new traditional ruler has come to stay, thus putting them on a war path with the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, who declared the installation of the new monarch as illegal.
The kingmakers had installed Olanrewaju Idowu, Abibiri V, as the new Osolo at dusk last Friday, to beat a marching order by the Deji, who is the paramount ruler of Akureland, that the installation should not take place.
The Osolo stool became vacant following the death of the former monarch, Oba Kayode Oluwatuyi.
Rejecting the new Osolo through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Michael Adeyeye, the Deji said, “It is laughable that the appointment was made in the middle of the night at a secret location in Akure,” adding, “This appointment defies all logic known to Akure’s tradition and appointment regarding the appointment of a chief.”
The Deji also insisted that “the Osolo remains a chief in Akure as affirmed by (a) Court of Appeal judgement.”
But in a swift reaction on behalf of Isolo kingmakers, the Elemo of Isolo, High Chief Ibukun Adetoyinbo, said the Deji had no right to dictate who rules over Isolo, saying the community is one of the towns that formed the Akure confederacy and as such, could not operate under the control of the Deji.
Adetoyinbo, in a chat with our correspondent in Lagos, recalled, “Akure people, under the leadership of Oba Gbogi, had invited the kingdoms of Isinkan and Isolo to move closer to them in order to form a confederacy against the aggression of Edo warriors and invaders in 1770 AD.
“It was after the Edo warriors were repelled that we decided to become one under a confederacy, which does not in any way make the Deji superior to the Osolo or the Osolo inferior to the Deji.”
The Deji has no right to crown a king for Isolo. All the Chiefs of Isolo Kingdom are happy and excited over the choice of their new king. All the chiefs of the kingdom thundered their unity as men and women of authority to hail the ascension of Oba Idowu to the throne
He said that it was in the best interest of the Deji to remove himself from the king-making process at Isolo, noting that it was a taboo for the Deji to be involved as any Deji that got involved in the crowning process might not live to see the next year.
Adetoyinbo said that Isolo was an ancient community in Yorubaland, stressing that the first Osolo, who started the community in 1348 A.D also founded the Meruku market, “which is still in existence till today.”
He explained that Isolo never sued Akure or the Deji, wondering how the royal father came about a judgement that Isolo could only lay claim to a chief and not Oba.
“We challenged the government to give the Osolo his staff of office, and we were granted recognition. Akure now challenged the authority of government, we won at the High Court, then they went on appeal, they won. Then we took our case to the Supreme Court. Osolo’s stool is not in dispute, isn’t that laughable?” He asked.
It is laughable that the appointment was made in the middle of the night at a secret location in Akure. This appointment defies all logic known to Akure’s tradition and appointment regarding the appointment of a chief
The Elemo said that there could be no vacuum in the filling of the throne and cautioned the Deji to “stop trying to intimidate the people of Isolo.”
“The Deji has no right to crown a king for Isolo. All the chiefs of Isolo Kingdom are happy and excited over the choice of their new king. All the chiefs of the kingdom thundered their unity as men and women of authority to hail the ascension of Oba Idowu to the throne,” he claimed.
But Adeyeye, the Deji’s CPS, sneered at Adetoyinbo’s claim, averring that they were only intended to create confusion in Akureland.
He warned that the order of the Deji was still in force, and that Idowu could not be an Oba in the community.
He said, “Any attempt to defy the Deji’s order will amount to an attempt to defy the court order. It is a case of committal. I am sure you are aware that the Appeal Court had delivered its judgment in 2012, which reversed the upgrading of the Osolo and Iralepo Chieftaincy to the status of an Oba. The said judgment still subsists.
“As we speak, Mr. Amos Idowu has gone into hiding as he has committed a criminal offence by making a self-declaration as an Oba.”
