A fierce royal dispute has erupted in Ijesaland as the Ofokutu Royal Family formally rejected the selection of Loja Clement Adesuyi Haastrup as the new Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland. The controversy has triggered a deep division within the Ijesa community, with multiple royal families accusing the process of violating both traditional customs and legal frameworks. The Ofokutu family, through a scathing statement, condemned the selection as an “affront to tradition” and vowed to seek legal redress.
A Shocking Decision
The Ofokutu Royal Family’s rejection of Haastrup’s appointment marks the latest chapter in a heated dispute over the leadership of Ijesaland. Haastrup, a prominent figure in the region, was elected by a group of Ijesa kingmakers during a meeting held at the Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat. Governor Ademola Adeleke later approved his selection in an Executive Council meeting on Friday, sealing his position as the new Owa Obokun.
However, the approval has been met with fierce opposition. The Ofokutu family, which is part of the Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House, issued a statement expressing shock and dismay at the decision. In the statement, the family called the process that led to Haastrup’s selection an “affront to the age-old tradition” that has long governed the appointment of the paramount ruler of Ijesaland.
The Legal Challenge
Prince Adetoyese Adegbohungbe, the Secretary of the Ofokutu Royal Family, made it clear that the family would not tolerate what they termed an “imposition.” He emphasized the family’s intent to pursue legal action to ensure that the Ijesa people are able to follow their long-established traditions in selecting their ruler.
“We the members of the Ofokutu Royal Family were shocked to be informed that a new Owa was selected in what can only be described as an affront to the age-old tradition of the emergence of the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland,” the statement reads. “The Ofokutu Royal Family hereby dissociates itself from this taboo and states unequivocally that it rejects the purported Owa-elect and the flawed and illegal process through which he was selected.”
Prince Adegbohungbe further accused the kingmakers of disregarding longstanding customs in the selection process. He expressed concern that such actions threatened to undermine the pride and honor of the Ijesa people, adding that the family would pursue all legal avenues to restore the integrity of the royal selection process.
Controversy Among the Royal Families
The rejection by the Ofokutu family is not an isolated incident. Other royal families, including the Arimoro Royal Family, have joined in the condemnation of the selection process, alleging that it violated traditional Ijesa customs.
According to the Arimoro family, the selection process was deeply flawed, with only five of the required thirteen kingmakers participating in the vote. This raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of Haastrup’s election, and further allegations surfaced regarding the defiance of an existing court order that had placed a temporary hold on the selection process.
The Arimoro family argued that the kingmakers and the state government had ignored the injunction and proceeded with the election despite the ongoing legal challenge filed by the Ofokutu family. This has fueled tensions between the royal families, with many calling for greater adherence to the traditional protocols that have guided the selection of Ijesaland’s monarchs for centuries.
“We cannot continue to allow this blatant disregard for tradition,” a representative from the Arimoro family stated. “The election was done in an underhanded manner, and it sets a dangerous precedent for future successions.”
The Bilaro Ruling House and the 125-Year Wait
The Ofokutu family’s rejection of Haastrup’s selection is not only a challenge to the election process but also part of a much larger dynastic struggle that has been simmering for over a century. The Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House, to which the Ofokutu family belongs, has long argued that they have been denied a rightful claim to the Owa Obokun throne for 125 years.
The last two Owa Obokun monarchs, both from the Ajimoko-Haastrup Royal Family, were elected without consideration of other branches of the Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House, such as the Ofokutu family. The Ofokutu family contends that this exclusion has undermined the principles of equity and fairness in the selection of the Ijesa monarch.
Prince Adegbohungbe’s recent letter to the Elders’ Council of Ijesa land and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke stresses that it is time to restore balance and fairness. The family has called for a fair and transparent process that takes into account all the royal families within the Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House, including Adeyemi, Adebusuyi, Adegbohungbe, Obembe, and Osundaunsi-Adeyokunnu.
“It is not about us, it is about the people of Ijesaland,” said Adegbohungbe in the letter. “We implore the Elders’ Council to ensure that no one family monopolizes the Owa Obokun stool. Our people deserve better.”
State Government’s Role in the Controversy
The involvement of the state government has added another layer of complexity to the situation. Governor Ademola Adeleke’s approval of Haastrup’s selection has placed him at the center of the dispute. Critics accuse the government of backing the election despite legal challenges and traditional objections from prominent royal families.
Political analysts have pointed out that the governor’s approval could be seen as a way to ensure stability in the region, but it has also raised questions about the extent to which political interests are influencing traditional matters.
As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes are now on the Elders’ Council of Ijesa land and the state government to determine the next steps in resolving this contentious matter. Will the Ofokutu family prevail in court, or will Haastrup’s selection stand? Only time will tell, but for now, the struggle for the Owa Obokun stool remains a bitter and highly charged issue.
