By Kayode Adeoti
As the people of the ancient town of Omu Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State warms up for the final rites of the late Olomu, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye scheduled for 14th April, the kingmakers, according to report, may formalise list of the likely successor to the monarch, next week, National Pilot can report.
Recall that Oba Ibitoye was pronounced dead at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, on the 1st of December 2017 after a brief illness.
The late Olomu presided over the affairs of the community for 24 years.
Ever since the demise of the monarch, royal families who have lineage to the vacant stool have continued to intensify efforts towards producing the next Olomu.
As at the last count no fewer than six names were thrown up as the likely successor to Oba Ibitoye from the four ruling houses namely; Ijawusi, Igan, Aki and Areyin.
A reliable source privy to the development in Omu Aran told this medium last night that the ruling houses are to forward the list of contenders to the kingmakers, early this week.
“The list for now is restricted to the royal families and we cannot know the names it contains until it is submitted this week. The name must be made official before the outing ceremony of the late Olomu.
“There will be meeting between officials of the ruling houses and the kingmakers, to harmonise the list. For now, the community is engrossed in ritual sacrifices towards the final rites for Olomu by April 14th.”
When contacted, the Chairman, Kingmakers Forum, Omu Aran, Chief Awoniyi Alakaka noted that preparation for the successor will commence after the final burial rites of the departed Olomu on 14th April.
“We cannot be discussing the next monarch when we’ve not rounded up the funeral rites for Olomu who just departed. It will be wrong to think along that line for now. But preparation will commence after all necessary rites have been concluded. There are some vacant stools that have to be filled before a king is enthroned, that is our next priority.”
Among the likely contenders for the stool are; the Asiwaju of Omu-Aran, Prince Samuel Adeniyi, a lecturer at the department of Business Administration, University of Ilorin, Dr Jimoh Oladipo, the Principal of the Muslim Secondary College, Igbaja, Prince AbdulAzeez Olawuyi and a former principal of Govt Secondary School, Omu-Aran, Prince Samuel Abolarin. Others are; a former staff of the Presidency, Prince Adebayo Onifade and the Executive Secretary of the Town Planning & Development Authority, Prince Raheem Adeoti.
