From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
After one year of sacking some traditional rulers in Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, insisted that the stools of Owa of Igbajo, Aree of Ire, and Akirun of Ikirun remained vacant.
During his inauguration on November 27, 2022, he declared the stools of all the traditional rulers installed by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, after the governorship election, vacant and composed a committee to look into their installation.
However, a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, yesterday, stated that the white paper on the sacked traditional rulers had been released, and the stools of the sacked traditional rulers remained vacant. The statement stated that the white paper nullified the process that led to the emergence of Gboyega Famodun, former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and two others, and directed a new selection process.
The statement reads: “On the report on the chieftaincy matters, chaired by Honourable Bunmi Jenyo, the white paper overwhelmingly prioritised compliance with legal requirements as a basis for the final decisions.
“By the report of the White Paper, all previous steps taken about the installation of Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo stand nullified. And that all-inclusive selection process(es) for a new Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo, respectively, should commence immediately.
“Specifically on Aree of Iree chieftaincy, the substantive chiefs are enjoined to withdraw their suit before the court to allow for the commencement of the selection process denovo in line with due process and tradition.
“And on the stool of Owa of Igbajo, the White Paper nullified the previous selection process, which produced Prince Gboyega Famodun, and directed an all-inclusive selection process for a new Owa nominee.
“On the disputed Akirun stool, the White Paper directed that the parties await the outcome of the case before the Court of Appeal and that the stool remains vacant.
“On other disputed kingship stools, the white paper further recommended compliance with the requirements of the law as in the Alawo stool where the government accepted the delegation recommendation that the government should await the outcome of the pending suit before the Supreme Court,” the statement added.