Kingmakers Divided Over Move To Dethrone Jailed Osun Monarch

A meeting called among princes of Ipetumodu, Ife North local government area of Osun State ended in deadlock on Tuesday, following a request for Governor Ademola Adeleke to declare the stool of the Apetumodu vacant due to the conviction of Oba Joseph Oloyede in the United States.

Following the long sentencing of the Apetumodu, a meeting presided over by the Asalu of Ipetumodu, Chief Sunday Adedeji was called Tuesday evening at the palace.

Disagreement started when a prince demanded that the presiding chief, Adedeji, being the most senior surviving kingmaker should convey a formal letter to Governor Adeleke to declare the throne vacant.

Dissatisfied with the move, Adedeji rejected the request and recused himself from any plan to declare the stool vacant.

This resulted in a shouting match among the attendees which eventually polarized the meeting before attendees dispersed around 6 p.m.

A prince from one of the ruling houses – Aribile Ruling House, Olaboye Ayoola, expressed disappointment at Adedeji’s refusal to convey the declaration of the throne as vacant.

Giving insight into the happenings at the meeting, Ayoola said those at the decided that two new kingmakers should be elected to replace the deceased ones and a letter written to Governor Adeleke to declare the seat vacant.

“But Chief Adedeji refused, insisting we won’t do that. He also announced he was no longer interested in being a kingmaker. That led to chaos, and the meeting ended without any resolution,” Ayoola said.

Oba Oloyede was convicted in the U.S. alongside a co-conspirator last month after they were found guilty of exploiting COVID-19 loan programmes under the CARES Act between April 2020 and February 2022.