One of the royal families to the throne of the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Osun State, the Ofokutu Royal Dynasty, has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke over the installation of Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup as the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland.
The chairman of the Ofokutu royal family, Prince Adebanji Obembe, in a statement on Saturday, faulted the selection process, describing it as unacceptable.
He insisted that it was the turn of the Ofokutus family to produce a candidate for the Owa, adding that other ruling houses had ruled in the past.
Also, another member of the family, Princess Oluwatoyin Faloye, expressed dissatisfaction over the installation of Haastrup as the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, saying, “The state requested that each contestant get a form worth N10m to contest the throne. I challenge Adesuyi Haastrup to get into the room known as ‘Ipebi’ for traditional rites if he knows he is qualified”.
The Ofokutu family affirmed that the state ignored a court injunction and proceeded with Haastrup’s installation, accusing the government of politicising the kingship.
The statement also indicated that the Ofokutu family remained resolute, insisting that the process undermined traditional customs and justice.
“Our tradition and culture are being assaulted and eroded on all fronts, no thanks to some politicians and some of the custodians of our culture.
“No wonder, our value systems and morals which were built on these norms have diminished substantially,” the statement added.
Reacting, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde, described the allegations as “barefaced lie and a distortion of facts.”
Babatunde insisted that the state government followed due process in the selection exercise, leading to the emergence of Haastrup as the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland “and did not politicise the process as alleged.”
“The purported court injunction was long set aside by the same court that granted same,” Babatunde said.
