The late Iralepo, Oba Joseph Olu Ojo joined his ancestors on the 4th of February 2021. His demise at the ripe age of 90 paved the way for the commencement of the selection processes of a new Monarch.
The selection exercise began with the Iralepo royal family. Nine (9) Omowas (princes) from the various branches of the family showed interest in the vacant stool.
Those who showed interest are:
- Chief Michael Ajibola Obadunjoye
- Prince Olawale Francis Ariyo
- Prince Gbenga Henry Adeyeye
- Prince Francis Bankole Adeuyi
- Prince Dare Williams Adeoye
- Prince Ademola Adekanbi Obe
- Prince Gbenga Ojo
- Prince Babatope Francis Ojo
- Prince Abiola Ojo
Three of the aspirants however stepped down leaving behind six (6) and their names were forwarded to the Iralepo Council of Chiefs by the royal family’s selection committee headed by the Olori Omowas, Prince (Pa) Durojaye Ariyo. The six names are:
- Chief Michael Ajibola Obadunjoye
- Prince Gbenga Henry Adeyeye
- Prince Ademola Adekanbi Obe
- Prince Gbenga Ojo
- Prince Babatope Francis Ojo
- Prince Abiola Ojo.
Prince Abiola Ojo however stepped down as the kingmakers began the traditional round of screening for the remaining five aspirants.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Uharefa (the kingmakers), the Elemo of Isinkan, High Chief Olasehinde Abidakun, who acted in the absence of the Lisa of Isikan had on the 11th of October 2021, sought the approval of the state government through the Akure South local government to commence the process of appointing and installing a new Oba. The law, custom, and tradition of Isinkan provide for 14 kingmakers out of which 13 are alive, while one (the Lisa) is deceased.
The selection processes were conducted with the officials of the Akure South Local Government led by the Secretary to the local government, Hon. Gbenga Fasua, acting as government representatives and observers in accordance with the state’s chiefs’ law on the selection of Obas. The kingmakers carried out the selection exercise among the five contestants starting with the Ifa oracle and ending with the physical voting among the Uharefa. At the end of the exercise, Prince Olugbenga Ojo scored seven votes, Gbenga Henry Adeyeye had four votes, and Michael Ajibola Obadunjoye one vote. The rest had no vote. Prince Olugbenga Ojo was subsequently declared the Iralepo-elect.
There was however a dramatic twist as the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi appointed Prince Gbenga Henry Adeyeye who came second in the selection as “High Chief Iralepo” a position alien to the custom and people of Isinkan.
The Princes and Princesses in Isinkan in a message described the purported appointment of Gbenga Henry Adeyeye as Iralepo by the Deji as a desecration of the tradition and heritage of Isinkan people and an insult to the Ondo State government. They asserted that it amounts to overstepping of boundaries which is capable of undermining the peace being enjoyed in the state capital.
In a strongly worded petition, the Head of the Omowas, Pa Durojaye Ariyo, affirmed that the recognition of the Iralepo as an independent traditional institution with its separate chieftaincy instrument, distinct and outside the Deji of Akure Cheiftancy declaration is a settled decision of the Ondo State Government. The Olori Omowa stated that the recognition accorded the Iralepo stool by the Ondo State government is in fact in “conformity with the same Supreme Court judgment that the Deji is bandying about”.
Prince Ariyo reaffirmed that the selection of Olugbenga Ojo followed due process.
“We presented quaified aspirants to the kingmakers for the vacant stool. The Kingmakers thereafter sought approval from Ondo State government through the Akure South local government for the selection process. Approval was duly granted on the 11th of October, 2021.”
This led to the final selection process on the 21st of October, 2021 held at Saint Thomas’s event centre in Isinkan, supervised by the Secretary to Akure South Local Government, Hon. Gbenga Fasua and under the watchful eyes of security personnel.
All the contestants signed a memorandum of understanding and peace accord, shook hands, and promised to support the winner.”
“We were surprised to read from the media the following day that the person who came second with four votes, Gbenga Henry Adeyeye had been appointed as “High Chief Iralepo” by the Deji.
The position of “High Chief Iralepo” is alien to Isikan custom and unknown to the people of Isinkan. We could have waved it aside but for posterity, we choose to set the record straight.
So, after following due process, we consider any other appointment or installation of Iralepo outside that of the one elected in Isikan by the people of Isikan as an affront to constituted authority.”
The Deji, Oba Aladelusi, also approached an Akure High court through his lawyer, Mr Ekaete Udofot to sue the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and traditional kingmakers of Isikan over the installation of Oba Olugbenga Ojo as the monarch of Isinkan.
In the case with suit no: AK/111M/2021 filed on October 22, 2021, he prayed the court to affirm that the Ondo State Government had no powers to recognize the Iralepo of Isinkan, a community within the state capital.
The applicant claimed that a judgment of the Court of Appeal had declared that the Iralepo of Isinkan was a quarter Chief under the prescribed authority of the Deji of Akure.
But the attorney to Oba Iralepo of Isinkan and the Isinkan community, Chief Sola Ebiseni, raised a preliminary objection challenging the locus standi of the Deji to institute the action being not a member of Isinkan community or of its Ruling House.
In the preliminary objection, it was stated that the applicant failed to fulfill the conditions precedent to instituting the action under the Chiefs Law.
It was also submitted that the suit of the Deji lacked merit on grounds that the Instrument of Appointment of the Iralepo of Isinkan made by the Executive Council on May 11, 2005 in exercise of its power, has not been challenged by the Deji or any other person in any court and on the basis of which Oba Joseph Olu Ojo was appointed in 1995.
In his judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, held that the appointment of the Iralepo of Isinkan as a recognized Chieftaincy subsists on grounds that the Instrument of appointment legally made by the Executive Council had not been challenged or set aside.
Consequently, the court dismissed the suit of the Deji and the Akure community, saying it lacked merit.
Not satisfied with the judgment, the Deji of Akure again filed an interlocutory injunction before the high court.
At the hearing, Counsel to the Deji made a U-turn and applied to withdraw the injunction.
Counsel to Iralepo, Chief Sola Ebiseeni however argued that the application was an abuse of court processes that wasted the precious time of the court and that of the respondent. He asked the court to award a fine of two hundred thousanN naira (N200,000) against the Deji, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi to be paid to the Iralepo of Isinkan.
Ruling on the application, Justice Odusola struck out the injunction for abuse of court process and wasting of time and subsequently fined the Deji, Oba Aladetoyinbo of the sum of fifty thousand Naira (N50,000) to be paid to the Iralepo of Isinkan.
On the 14th of July, 2022, the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN formally visited Ita-Owa in Iralepo’s palace in Isikan where he presented the Instrument of Appointment and Staff of Office to the Monarch, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula (Arulewolasi III) amidst jubilation as the 60th Oba of Isikan since the period after Oke Isikan – being 49th on the Oroko dynasty, 38th on the Oralopo dynasty and 164th when the three regnal dynasties of Isikan were added less the female kings.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa said “I wish to congratulate the Kabiyesi, His Royal Highness, Oba Olugbenga Ojo, the Iralepo of Isinkan on your ascension to the throne of your ancestors. I wish you many years of peaceful and successful reign over your people. I pray your reign shall usher in new development and progress for Isinkan Community.
While rejoicing with you, Kabiyesi, I want to implore Your Royal Highness to assume the position of a father to all the people in your domain. Furthermore, I encourage you to accommodate everyone in your community, bearing in mind that the responsibility to lead Isinkan to its next level of socio-economic development has been placed on your shoulders. Let me also advise the Kabiyesi to restrict your governance to your domain only. Any idea to extend your territory to other areas outside your domain will not be tolerated. May God help you to succeed in this onerous task.” He said
The elated new Iralepo, thanked those who were instrumental to his emergence and recognition especially the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, and members of his cabinet.
He said “today, the people of Isikan bid farewell and perpetual goodbye to oppression.
Today, the people of Isikan bid farewell and perpetual goodbye to affliction.
Today, the people of Isikan bid farewell and perpetual goodbye to repression.
Joyously and gloriously, Isikan people, we advance into our Canaan. Isikan becomes the land of fertility, buoyant harvest, abundance, prosperity, peace, love, and progress for all our children, both at home and in the Diaspora.”
Prince Kunle Ariyo is a Journalist and Secretary to Iralepo Royal family Screening Committee.
