BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Stakeholders in Igbajo town, Osun State under the aegis of Igbajo For Equity and Justice have lamented continuous delay by the state government in taking decisions on the three suspended traditional rulers in the state.
Recall that the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, through an Executive Order had suspended monarchs of Igbajo, Iree and Ikirun over alleged illegalities in their installations and had constituted a committee to probe the issues.
The committee had submitted its report to the state governor but the government was yet to take action on it.
About six months after the announcement of the monarchs’ suspension and exit from their palaces, the group warned against further delay in the issuance of white paper by the government, saying the development was already causing uneasy calm in the affected towns.
The group alleged plans by the state government to reinstate Adegboyega Famodun who had been suspended by the state government as the Owa of Igbajoland.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Wole Alabi, the group said the state government under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke has been under pressure to reinstate Famodun through the backdoor by jettisoning the much awaited white paper on the subject matter.
IFEJ strongly condemned the action of those behind the illegal plan of reinstating Famodun through the backdoor against the Executive Order 5, promulgated by Governor Adeleke’s administration.
The statement reads, “The worrisome suspicion that the present administration of Adeleke Dynasty in Osun State might be playing to the gallery by appealing to sentiments and allow the impostor in Igbajo to sit on an undeserving stool would be a monumental tragedy in the chequered history of Osun State.
“Sustainability of such fallacy by the current administration under any guise would be an unpardonable sin that could also throw the town into a crisis which no one could predict.
“It’s therefore imperative for Governor Ademola Adeleke to summon the political will and toe the path of equity, justice and fairness and allow peace to reign in the ancient town.
“Former Governor Gboyega Oyetola had bastardized the traditional institution in Osun State before leaving office on November 27, 2022 by ensuring that only All Progressives Congress (APC) members were appointed into the traditional offices, even, with disregard to the Court Order on such appointment by resulting to self-help.
“We heard it on good authority that Prince Adegboyega Famodun has been prostrating for a senior member of the Adeleke family to make Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke lift the suspension placed through the Executive Order 5 on the appointment and also release some secret information on the plan of Gboyega Oyetola and state chapter of the APC against Ademola Adeleke administration.
“It was learnt that Famodun has been on the neck of a senior member of the Adeleke family to mount pressure on Governor Ademola Adeleke to jettison whatever might be the outcome of the Chieftaincy Panel led by Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, to probe the rationale behind the illegal appointments of All Progressives Congress (APC) members as Obas in the State.
“It was further learnt that Famodun had promised Senior Adeleke that he would be the patronage of Adeleke’s administration and ready to accept any option being given to him (Famodun) by becoming a member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.”
However, the group urged Governor Adeleke not to further delay the issuance of White paper on the report of the Chieftaincy Panel that investigated the alleged illegal installation in the town.
The spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed had said the state government would make its decisions on chieftaincy matters in the state public very soon.
