- Plans to impose another King on us will fail – Prince Adeleke
- I remain Aree, Oba Oluponle
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The white paper suspending some traditional rulers in Osun State has divided the people of Iree in Boripe Local Government as accusations and counter-accusation continue to trail the decision.
The National Resident, Iree Progressive Association (IPA), and the Asiwaju of Ireeland, Adenrele Afolabi, at a press conference held at Iree town hall on Monday, said that the governor has corrected the mistake of the past by asking Oba Raphael Oluponle to step aside for new process of selection to commence.
But the press conference was dismissed by Prince Adebayo Adeleke who led representatives of six ruling houses and those involved in performing ritual rites for a King designate, at another place in the town, saying that the attempt by Governor Adeleke to impose another King on the town after a king has been installed, will not happen.
The suspended monarch, Oba Oluponle also said he remains Aree of Iree and urged the people of the town to be law-abiding pending the decision of the suit before the court, saying that the purported white paper would be challenged.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Afolabi said, that by giving power back to the kingmakers to perform their traditional duties, the governor has shown dedication to upholding the customs and traditions of the people of Iree.
“Such a move not only rectifies the injustice done in the past but also ensures that the correct protocols are followed in the selection of a new ruler. The kingmakers need to exercise their role with utmost diligence, fairness, and transparency. Their responsibility to uphold the traditions and values of the community must be carried out in a manner that respects the aspirations of the people.
“I implore the kingmakers to take this opportunity to do the needful in the right way. Let justice and wisdom guide your decisions as you choose the rightful successor to the throne, Your actions will not only impact the present but also shape the future of Iree. May your choices unite the community and foster progress, prosperity, and harmony for all its residents,” Afolabi said.
Similarly, Adeleke said the purported meeting led by Afolabi does not represent the interest of the Iree people but the interest of some political miscreants sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Adeleke who said he believed in the process that presented the incumbent monarch, Oba Ademola Oluponnle Raphael said the people of the town were in support of the monarch and other royal families never contested his emergence in a law court when he was installed, saying people are now hiding under the guise of the government’s declaration to cause crisis in the town.
He said, “The meeting held at Iree town hall does not represent the interest of Iree indigenes at the meeting, you’ll hear somebody saying PDP, they’ll say Imole, obviously that meeting is the meeting of the PDP members in our town including the IPA president Oluwole Taiwo. The people that attended the meeting do not live in Iree. They are people who live elsewhere but want you to impose a money bag on the people of Iree. That meeting is condemned in the totality, it lacked merit, and those who were there did not speak on behalf of Iree because they were all PDP members. The meeting is political.”