Apetu Stool: Ruling Houses lobby kingmakers to succeed jailed Oba Oloyede

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Following the recent conviction of the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, in the United States, succession talks for the stool have begun.

Oba Oloyede, who holds Nigerian and U.S. citizenship, was sentenced to 56 months in prison by a U.S. District Court for a $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fund fraud.

His conviction has revived succession talks in Ipetumodu, with princes from the Aribile and Fagbemokun Ruling Houses reportedly lobbying kingmakers underground for the stool.

But the kingmakers, led by the Asalu of Ipetumodu, Chief Sunday Afolabi, are said to be waiting for government guidance before taking any decision.

This time, we want them to consult Ifa -Prince Ayoola

Meanwhile, a prince of the Aribile ruling house in Ipetumodu, Laboye Ayoola, has called on kingmakers and the Osun State Government to consult the Ifa oracle before appointing a new Apetu of Ipetumodu, following the conviction of Oba Joseph Oloyede in the United States.

Speaking in an interview, Ayoola alleged that the embattled monarch was imposed on the town in 2019 because of his wealth, despite not being a known member of the Aribile Ruling House, which he claimed to represent.

He said the monarch was handed a staff of office by the government without undergoing any traditional rites.

The Prince added that before Oba Oloyede’s appointment, concerned ruling houses had urged the kingmakers to consult the Ifa oracle, but the kingmakers rejected the idea, claiming they were “above Ifa.”

According to him, “Oba Oloyede was considered because of his money. He was not known to our ruling house. He evaded the traditional rites and was given the staff of office by the government. We warned then that Ifa must be consulted, but the kingmakers said they were above Ifa.”

Ayoola insisted that this time around, a new selection process must return to tradition.

“This time, we want them to consult Ifa. Even if the oracle chooses a poor person without cloth, we will support him. We don’t want a rich person buying the throne. Whoever Ifa picks must be our king.”

For now, the throne of Ipetumodu remains in limbo as the town awaits government direction, with growing calls that tradition, not wealth, should guide the next selection.