The Arimoro royal family has faulted the process that led to the crowning of Clement Hasstrup as the new Owa-Obokun of Ijesaland.
The family described the process as a charade, a breach of the established Ijesha tradition, and a gross abuse of the judicial process.
On December 27, the Bilaro Olu-Odo ruling house announced Haastrup, a former deputy governor of Osun state, as the Owa-Obokun of Ijesaland.
Isaac Haastrup, public relations officer of the Bilaro Olu-Odo royal family, said Haastrup defeated nine candidates in the election.
“He defeated nine other candidates in a free and fair selection process held at the Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat along the Ilesa-Oshogbo motorway,” he said.
In a statement, Adegoke Arimoro, global coordinator of the Arimoro family lineage, said only five kingmakers out of the recognised 13, voted to elect the new Owa-Obokun.
He said the election was a breach of the court order that restrained Ijesha kingmakers and Ademola Adeleke, governor of the state, from naming a new Owa Obokun pending the determination of a substantive suit instituted by the Ofokutu royal lineage.
Adegoke said the coronation was a gross violation of due process, adding that the Arimoro family had rejected the purported Owa-Obokun and will seek lawful means to ensure the selection is nullified.
“The speedy approval of Clement Haastrup as the new Owa Obokun-elect by Governor Ademola Adeleke was a confirmation of the unholy alliance between some Ijesha kingmakers and the state government,” the statement reads.
“Impunity is on full display. The Osun state government and her agents have finally thrown the ljesa Royal tradition to the dogs.
“When did the selection of Owa Obokun become a matter of casting a vote at the Local Government Secretariat? This is a rape of ljesa Royal tradition of installing a new Owa for the first time in history.
“Where is the gazette that supports this impunity? Some kingmakers, state government officials, and others who got involved in the desecration of our traditions will soon realize that it is a costly error.
“What is clear is that the last is yet to be heard on this subject. Certainly, it is one person that will wear the crown. But not through this ignoble route as the consequences will bring a big lesson.
“If the staff of office has been given to the compromised candidate, what happened to the Ipebi phase which is about 97 days of rites by tradition before Owa Obokun is ripe for a given staff of office?”
On December 20, Kayode Arimoro, a prince from the Arimoro lineage within the Bilaro Oluodo dynasty in Osun, declared interest in becoming the next Owa-Obokun of Ijesaland. (The Cable)
