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Regional News of Saturday, 20 February 2021

Source: punchng.com

Family lobbies for royal position in Osun

The two other ruling houses are Obaara and Adedeji The two other ruling houses are Obaara and Adedeji

Following the demise of Akinrun of Ikirun in Osun State, Oba Abdulrauf Adedeji II, few days ago, there have been secret moves to secure a candidate for the next king of the town, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

It was learnt that the Gboleru ruling house said to be next in line to produce the new Akinrun of Ikirun, is already making arrangements aimed at ensuring a peaceful selection of a candidate within the ruling house.

The two other ruling houses are Obaara and Adedeji.

However, in a statement on Friday by the spokesperson for one of the royal families, Abimbola Toki, a ruling house other than Gboleru, was reportedly lobbying for the exalted position.

The three ruling houses were said to have been formed through a government’s Gazette of 1980 signed by the former governor of old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige,  during the reign of Late Oba Lawani Adeyemi.

The statement read in part, “Oba Lawani Adeyemi Oyejola, from the Obaara ruling house ruled between 1945-1989 after which Oba Adewale Adedeji II, who died few days ago, came to the throne from 1991–2021. According to one of the stakeholders in chieftaincy affairs in Ikirun, the entire process of selecting a new oba for the town is expected to be peaceful as there is no misunderstanding among all the kingmakers and other stakeholders in the town as to the next ruling house to produce the next king which is Gboleru family.

“There are indications that another royal family is making secret moves to put forward a candidate in case the Gboleru family is unable to produce one but the Gbolerus have more than enough qualified candidates for the position.”

According to the statement, Ikirun is in dire need of developmental projects which the natives of the town want the new king to address.

It added, “These include award of scholarship to indigenes, citing of small scale industries, construction of more classrooms in primary and secondary schools, equipping the Ikirun library with current books and computers, establishment of more banks, expansion of market stalls and provision of recreational facilities among others.”