By Adesakin Adefemi
The Ogun State Government has urged members of the public to disregard a purported letter allegedly written by the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Rasheed Adeoye Adesanya, to Governor Dapo Abiodun on the nomination of five princes for the Awujale of Ijebuland stool. Officials said the letter has no standing under the law.
In a viral letter dated April 14 and bearing an acknowledgement date of June 15, Chief Adesanya was reported to have said that kingmakers, acting under the Chiefs Law and the customary law regulating the Awujale stool, had picked five princes from which the state government could make its choice.
The nominees listed in the letter were Prince Ademorin Aliu Kuye, Prince Isiaq Ayodele Adewale Adekoya, Prince Onabanjo Abimbola John, Prince Oluwaseun Waheed Omopenu Onanuga and Prince Olabode Onanuga. Chief Adesanya was said to have urged Governor Abiodun to pick the next Awujale from the list.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, however, called on the public to disregard the letter. He said it does not change the fact that the Awujale selection process remains under suspension as announced by the government about six months ago.
Akinmade said whoever wrote the letter had no locus standi. He explained that a valid communication conveying the decision of kingmakers on the selection of a king must come from the local government to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, not through any individual.
“The letter is of no consequence and the members of the public should disregard it,” Akinmade stated. He added that as long as the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has not issued any contrary statement, nothing has changed with the government’s position on the selection of the Awujale.
When contacted, the Olisa said he had nothing to do with the letter and suggested it might have been written in his name to tarnish his image. He said he was not a party to any such communication and was unaware of its origin.
The Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, also said he was not aware of the purported letter. His statement reinforced the government’s position that no official transmission had been received from the local government regarding the stool.
The state government had in January halted the selection process for the new Awujale, citing a surge of petitions, rising tensions and reports of procedural errors from security agencies and key stakeholders. The last Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, joined his ancestors in July last year at the age of 91 after reigning for 65 years.
