The Osun State Government has declared that the appointments of the new Aree of Iree, Muritala Oyelakin and Owa of Igbajo, Ademola Makinde, were in line with tradition and the chieftaincy law of the state.
The state government also maintained that it did not violate any law and tradition in the appointment of the two kings.
The position of the state government was contained in a statement signed by Kolapo Alimi, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, in Osogbo on Saturday.
The statement also held that the allegations of misconduct, corruption and abuse of power against the government by the All Progressives Congress, APC, were unfounded and baseless.
DAILY POST had reported that the Osun chapter of the APC in an earlier statement on Saturday stated that the interference of the state government in the chieftaincy institution in the state was causing needless crisis.
DAILY POST also recalled that a government White Paper has declared the stool of the Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo vacant and requested that fresh selection processes be conducted.
The state government revealed that it set up committees to review the activities of the immediate past administration, particularly towards the end of its tenure.
“One of such committees was the one that reviewed activities on Chieftaincy matters from July 16 to November 26 2022. The Committee held public sessions and received several petitions on which it wrote its report. A White Paper Drafting Committee reviewed the report of the Committee before it was further reviewed by the State Executive Council and a White Paper was issued.
“The White Paper touched upon several Chieftaincy matters handled by the immediate past administration towards the end of its tenure and gave succor to the people in line with their yearnings. Prominent among the Chieftaincy matters are the stools of Aree of Iree, Akirun of Ikirun and Owa of Igbajo.”
The revealed that, “On the stool of Aree of Iree, it was discovered that the immediate past administration deliberately bypassed the town’s kingmakers and made use of warrant chiefs to select and approve an Oba for Iree. The White Paper therefore advised the Iree Kingmakers who were in court to protest the action of the immediate past administration to withdraw the suit with an assurance that they would be allowed to perform their traditional duty.
“On the stool of Akirun of Ikirun, the White Paper stated that all contending parties should await the decision of the Court of Appeal on the suit filed by one of the ruling houses in Ikirun which was dissatisfied with the action of the immediate past administration on the Akirun stool.
“The White Paper stated that a fresh selection process would take place in Igbajo to enable all eligible princes from the Owa Oke Odo Ruling House participate in a free and fair selection in the interest of fair play, equity and in line with the custom and tradition of Igbajo.”
The state government affirmed that it acted within the law and tradition as well as in the best interest of the people of the affected towns.
Appointment of monarchs in line with tradition, chieftaincy law – Osun Govt
