Traditional chiefs boycott rites for new monarch in Iree

…As youth vandalise royal seclusion shrine

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

There was fear in Iree, Boripe Local Government of Osun State on Friday as some youth broke into the royal seclusion shrine of the community.

The loyalists of a traditional ruler in the community allegedly broke the shrine, located at Odofin’s Compound in Iree, where a new king is expected to stay for three days before he would be pronounced king,

The youth reportedly shot sporadically into the air before breaking the doors to the shrine. The said traditional ruler and his loyalists left abruptly without performing any rites that would have conferred traditional legitimacy on him.

Findings showed that the chiefs charged with the responsibility of performing the rites shunned the process, saying that the same rites had been performed on Oba Raphael Ademola Oluponnle, who was suspended by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The chiefs, namely Asalu, Odofin, and Oluode, insisted that until Oba Oluponnle ages and joins his forefathers, the items being used to perform such traditional rites would not be retrieved and applied on any other person because repeating it for Oyelakin would be sacrilegious and manipulative.

The head of the Odofin compound, Pa Bolanle Ojo, said: “It is practically impossible for us to accept another person into seclusion. Everything necessary traditionally was done and handed over to Oba Oluponnle, and we can’t retrieve it.”

Also, the Asalu of Iree, High Chief Taiwo Mariana said” “I am the head of all deities in Iree. We conducted the necessary rites for Oba Oluponnle and it cannot be done twice. The government should please tread with caution by not using the Obaship matter to create confusion in Iree.”

Also, the Security head in the community, Oluode of Iree, Ayodeji Oguniyi said all the hunters were fully involved in the selection process, installation as well as every aspect of the tradition leading to Oba Oluponnle’s enthronement.

Oba Oluponnle has also insisted that he remains the Aree of Iree, saying the certificate of his appointment and staff of office are still in his custody.