Ondo govt vows not to impose candidate for Oloba stool

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Government has assured residents of Oba-Ile in Akure North Local Government Area that it will not impose any candidate as the community’s next Oloba, saying the selection must reflect the wishes and traditions of the people.

The assurance followed a protest by some members of the community on Monday over what they described as an attempt to impose a candidate in the ongoing selection of a new traditional ruler. The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, gave the assurance while receiving Oba-Ile stakeholders who visited his office in Akure, the state capital, amid the controversy.

Takuro said the government had no preferred candidate, stressing that its role was to ensure that the process complied with the law and due process. He dismissed reports that the government planned to overturn the kingmakers’ decision and impose a candidate, describing the claims as false. “The government has no vested interest in the selection of Obas. We are only interested in ensuring that due process is followed and that the wishes of the people are respected,” he said.

He added that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had directed a thorough investigation into the matter, saying the government would only reject the kingmakers’ decision if it was found to be fraudulent or inconsistent with the community’s traditions and the wishes of the people. He also assured the stakeholders that the government was committed to ensuring that Oba-Ile gets an Oloba soon.

The Chairman of Akure North Local Government, Johnson Ogunbolude, said the state and local governments had been transparent in handling the selection process. He urged residents with grievances over any change in the selection to direct their concerns to the kingmakers.

However, one of the protesters, the Adaja of Oba-Ile and Chairman of the Elegbe Family, Chief Ileowo Adedipe Damilola, alleged that the selection of Prince Gbadebo Adeusi through the Ifa Oracle, which he said was endorsed at a recent peace meeting, was later altered.

Adedipe maintained that peace could only return to the community if the traditional process was respected. His position came amid the government’s assurance that the selection would be guided by the law, the community’s traditions and the wishes of its people.

Following the commissioner’s explanation, the stakeholders apologised to the government, describing the protest as a result of a misunderstanding.