…monarch to emerge from Aki, Ijoko/Olasakale ruling houses
By Kayode Adeoti
For seven months, sons and daughters of Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State waited for the emergence of a new monarch following the passing of the Olomu of Omu Aran, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye Adogbajale Bi Ileke II, sometimes in December 2017.
However, the patience of members of the community may have paid off as traditional leaders of Omu-Aran have apparently concluded plans to forward the names of the likely successor to the throne.
According to findings by this medium last night, the kingmakers are gearing up to forward the name of Oba Ibitoye’s likely successor to the Kwara State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, this week.
To this effect, a source close to the Olomu Palace who confided in this medium revealed that the community leaders held a meeting on Friday, and Sunday morning.
A High Chief who does not want his name in print due to the sensitivity of the issue added that another meeting will be conveyed 4:30pm, today to conclude plans for nomination of the successor to the throne. The community leader however said the name of the nominees to be forwarded to the appropriate quarters may be two. According to him, it is the state government that will have the final say on who eventually succeeds the departed monarch after thorough consultation and scrutiny.
Speaking on the telephone with our reporter last night, the high chief said, “We have already held two meetings at the weekend and the last of such meeting will take place 4:30 pm tomorrow (Monday), to conclude on the nominee (s).
“For now, we have put no name forward because we don’t want to cause confusion in the community. The kingmakers will henceforth begin work on the name that will be made available to them and afterwards forward same to the government for announcement.
“In less than two days, the name will get to the Local Government Chairman and once the council boss takes the necessary step on it, he will forward it to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed who will send it to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. This process must not exceed a week because, matters of the stool cannot be taken for granted,” the source stressed.
In the same, a member of the community privy to the succession battle told this medium that the ruling houses expected to produce the next Olomu have been asked to forward names of their nominee(s) to the kingmakers.
He said successor to the Olomu stool has been narrowed down to two aboriginal ruling houses of Aki and Olasankale saying both royal families have submitted their candidates to the kingmakers.
“We should be hopeful that the next Olomu will be named this week, the community is on it and with the efforts geared towards this exercise, we should expect result of their several meetings, this week,” the source disclosed.
“The successors are from Aki ruling house in Eesa ward and Ijoko/Olasankale ruling house in Asanlu ward. They’ve forwarded names to the kingmakers and all these exercises were done in collaboration with Idile Olomo Oba (ruling houses),” the source divulged.
Highly favoured to emerge the next Olomu is the Executive Secretary of the state Town Planning and Development Authority, Raheem Adeoti from Ijoko compound.
Also in the race is Prince Adedayo Onifade who also hailed from Ijoko and recently retired at the presidency, Abuja.
Other candidates who were earlier tipped for the stool include; a lecturer at the Department of Business Administration, University of Ilorin, Dr. Jimoh Oladipo and Prince Abdulazeez Olawuyi, a principal at the Muslim Secondary College (MUSECO), Igbaja.
Reacting to the development, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. (Mrs) Habibat Katibi said her office is yet to receive any report from Omu Aran community leaders as regards the successor to the throne.
Speaking further, Katibi said her ministry has nothing to do with the search and screening exercise being done by the kingmakers. She added that it is not uncommon for community leaders to source for successor to a stool after the demise of the monarch.
“No name has been brought to our table yet, it is normal for community leaders to forward name of candidate that will succeed their demised monarch and our office do not interfere in such exercise,” she stated.
