Having passed through due process of selection, the Igbajo Community in Boluwaduro local government area of Osun State has appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to allow Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun to remain on the throne of his forebears.
The community which made the clarion call yesterday at a press conference attended by the stakeholders including the kingmakers, ruling houses, baales, compound heads, women and youths leaders and addressed by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemo, secretary, Owa Oke Ruling Houses insisted that they would not support any action or inactions capable of rocking the existing peace in the ancient town.
His words, “We wish to remind Governor Adeleke that his government order in the recently published White Paper for the re-selection process of a new Oba is against the tradition and custom of Igbajo when the princes from Omo Owa Oke-Ode Ruling House and the kingmakers have selected Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun as the authentic Owa of Igbajo on November 22, 2022.
“We are making it abundantly clear to Governor Adeleke and the whole world that all the due processes were followed in accordance with the Chieftaincy Law of the land for the selection starting from the ruling houses to the kingmakers to the local government before the king was announced and installed.
“We are making it explicitly clear that the tradition of installing the Owa of Igbajo cannot be reversed because the traditional rites cannot be performed twice in an Oba’s lifetime.
“We are stating here unequivocally and convincingly that the order for the re-selection process of another Owa of Igbajo after the selection process of Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun had been concluded in accordance with the Chieftaincy Law of the land is unnecessary and an aberration,” he said.
The community viewed the re-selection order of Governor Adeleke for another Owa of Igbajo as “oppressive, vindictive and vendetta-laden and against the rule of law, moreso when all the aggrieved princes are already challenging the emergence of Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun in the competent court of law.”
