Prince Kayode Micheal Adewale Arimoro (KMA), a contestant in the race for the throne of Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, has promised to fight on until justice is done, even as he advised his teeming supporters to remain calm and peaceful. He assured them that he would continue to pursue his aspiration for the throne through all legitimate means until justice prevailed.
In a statement in Ilesha, Prince Arimoro, from the Arimoro Lineage within the Bilaro Oluodo Dynasty, said that as a Prince, patriotic son of Ijeshaland, and believer in the rule of law, he had confidence in the capability and integrity of the judiciary to right the wrong perpetrated by the Osun State Government in imposing Adesuyi Haastrup as OwaObokun on the Ijesha people.
According to the young serial entrepreneur, he would not shy away from pursuing his royal rights and defending the tradition, pride, and heritage of the Ijesha people without resulting into violence. He alleged that it was clear that the processes for installing Owa Obokun was a subterfuge process and clear abuse of the established Ijesha tradition.
‘While recognizing the right of other candidates to aspire for the throne, the process implemented by the Osun State Government was flawed. opaque, lacked integrity, orchestrated, and skewed to favour a particular candidate’, he added.
‘As a young, educated, and responsible citizen, I would toe the path of peace, honour, and reason in the pursuit of my aspiration. I am out to challenge the degradation of Ijesha tradition and heritage, resist the insult to Ijesha people, and put on record the overbearing influence of governmental institutions in the selection of the new Owa’, he stated.
According to him, history is replete with records of similar wrongdoings which were later redressed through the court of law no matter how long it takes, stating that ‘I believe in the integrity of the nation’s judiciary to ensure justice is delivered based on the clear evidence of impunity and abuse of the established Ijesha tradition in the selection of the king’’.
After a review of the whole process that led to the appointment of Haastrup as the new Owa Obokun, the Global Co-ordinator, Arimoro Family, Sir (Prince) Adegoke Arimoro, also confirmed that the family would resort to the judiciary to seek redress for the injustice and abuse in the selection of the new king to the detriment of their family.
Sir (Prince) Adegoke added that Prince Kayode Arimoro had demonstrated the agility and intellectual requirements for the huge task of an Owa Obokun. ‘He is well read and well- travelled, yet he is a grassroot person who has provided welfare programmes in Ilesa even before the struggle for Owa’s stool began. He is not alien to Ijesa culture and has a listening ear. With his age, he has what it takes to move the huge youthful population while relying on the close relationship he has with Agba ljesa”, he stated
Sir (Prince) Adegoke stated further that: "As a prince from the Bilaro Oluodo Dynasty of Arimoro Lineage, KMA is good enough for the position. At the Arimoro Lineage level, he commands the overwhelming support of our Elders and the youth”. Other Ruling Houses that vied for the Owa Obokun throne also faulted the process that led to the selection of the new Owa Obokun on Friday, December 27, 2024, describing it as a gross violation of the established tradition, documented history, and existing chieftaincy laws by the Osun State government.
The Ofokutu Royal Family through its Secretary, Prince Adetoyese Adegbohungbe, had last year expressed exasperationon the process adopted to select the new king for Ijesha land. Already suspecting a subterfuge development on the new Owa Obokun selection, the Ofokutu Royal Family of Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House early December succeeded in getting the Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa to issue a restraining order against the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, and Ilesa kingmakers from nominating a new Owa Obokun of Ijesaland.
The court’s decision follows a suit numbered HIL/117/2024, filed by Prince Debo Adeyemi and 10 others on behalf of members of the Ofokutu Royal Family of Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House. Other defendants in the case, apart from Adeleke, include the Obanla of Ijesaland, Chief Folorunso Adeniyi, and 11 other kingmakers, the Ijesa Central Traditional Council, the Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adesuyi Haastrup, and the Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
The applicants sought an order preventing Governor Adeleke, his administration officials, and Ilesa kingmakers from taking steps to appoint Haastrup or any other person as the OwaObokun of Ijesaland pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed regarding the stool.``
Late Oba Adekunke Aromolaran the immediate past OwaObokun Ijesha passed on in September 2024 after which about eleven candidates from different ruling houses vied for the position.
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