By John Dike, Osogbo
The people of Bode-Osi, in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of Osun State have
appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to foil alleged plans by some powerful forces in his administration to impose an unpopular oba on the town.
Specifically, they accused the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, of manipulating the process for the selection of the community’s new traditional ruler.
They made the allegation during a peaceful protest held at the Osun State Government Secretariat in Osogbo, where indigenes and kingmakers called on the Governor to intervene and ensure that the outcome of the completed selection process is respected.
The protesters urged the governor to officially approve and announce Prince Sabitu Biliaminu Ariyo, whom they said was duly elected by the kingmakers, as the new Oba of Bode-Osi.
They warned that any attempt to impose another candidate on the community would be resisted, appealing to the governor to call his Chief of Staff to order in order to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order in the town.
The passage of the immediate past traditional ruler of Bode-Osi necessitated the commencement of the process to select a successor.
However, the exercise was initially stalled following the death of two out of the six kingmakers, leaving only four members and making it difficult to proceed with the selection process.
To address the situation, Osun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs approved the appointment of two warrant chiefs to fill the vacant positions.
A letter signed by the Director of Administration of Ola-Oluwa Local Government, Mrs. T.O. Onaleye, confirmed the appointment of Alhaji Akibu Alidu Abiodun and Mr. Liadi Oluwafemi Samuel as warrant chiefs to participate in the selection exercise.
Following the reconstitution of the kingmakers’ council, voting was conducted to select a new monarch. At the end of the exercise, Prince Sabitu Biliaminu Ariyo secured four out of the six votes cast.
Despite the outcome, the official announcement of the new Oba has yet to be made, a development that has generated tension within the community.
Speaking during the protest, the Head of Chiefs in Bode-Osi, High Chief Kareem Muskilu Olayemi, popularly known as the Oosa of Bode-Osi, said the kingmakers had fulfilled their responsibility and appealed to Governor Adeleke to approve their choice without further delay.
“We want the governor to help us announce the person we selected. We are also pleading with the Chief of Staff to do the right thing by accepting our choice,” Olayemi said.
He alleged that Akinleye was backing another contestant despite the outcome of the selection exercise, which favoured Prince Ariyo.
According to him, the community is dissatisfied with what it perceives as an attempt to overturn the decision of the kingmakers and impose another candidate on the town.
Also speaking, the Agoro of Bode-Osi, High Chief Fatai Ayinla, maintained that the selection process complied with established traditional procedures and government directives.
“Six chiefs participated in the process after the government approved additional representatives from some ruling compounds. We conducted the election on April 8 and voted for Biliaminu Ariyo. He got four votes out of six,” Ayinla stated.
He said preparations had already begun for the installation of the new monarch before the process became controversial.
“We don’t understand what is going on again. We heard that they want to manipulate the result of the election. We are pleading with Governor Ademola Adeleke to announce the person we voted for,” he added.
The kingmakers further appealed to the state government to respect the wishes of the community and formally recognise Prince Ariyo as the duly selected Oba of Bode-Osi.
The indigenes also reaffirmed their support for Governor Adeleke’s administration, pledging their loyalty and expressing readiness to support his re-election bid.
They commended the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Oluwole Jimi-Bada (SAN), as well as officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, for what they described as fairness and sincerity in handling the matter.
The protesters equally praised Yeye Dupe Adeleke for her contributions to the success of the administration and the development of Osun State, while urging her to prevail on the Chief of Staff to avoid actions capable of causing embarrassment to the government.
They also disclosed that the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, and the Governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, had assured them that the right thing would be done.
Reaffirming their position, the kingmakers and indigenes insisted that the selection of Prince Sabitu Biliaminu Ariyo followed due process and reflected the collective will of the community, urging Governor Adeleke to uphold the outcome and officially announce him as the new Oba of Bode-Osi.
