The Palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Haastrup, has dismissed Mr Adebola Orolugbagbe’s claim to the title of Odole Owa of Ijesaland, describing it as false and misleading.
It, therefore, cautioned members of the public against giving Orolugbagbe any recognition or privileges associated with the office, insisting that his claim to the title was without legitimacy.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Personal Secretary to the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, John Abe, and made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday in Osogbo.
The palace statement came following an earlier statement by the Odole Chieftaincy Family, signed by Olumide Asaolu, which insisted that Orolugbagbe remained the Odole of Ilesa, and kicked against the installation of Makanjuola Afolabi as the new Odole of Ilesa by the palace.
The family said only the Osun State Government had the power to remove Orolugbagbe from office after due process.
“As far as the entire Odole family is concerned, but for a few disgruntled members, Chief Adebola Orolugbagbe has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and the government has not notified of any plans to remove Chief Adebola Orolugbagbe as Odole of Ilesa.
“Therefore, any purported installation of any other person, by whatever name, as Odole of Ilesa, is not only unconstitutional but also unlawful, and consequently null and void and of no effect whatsoever,” the family said.
However, reacting on Wednesday, the palace said based on available records, the last Odole Owa was High Chief Ayinde Oladele Jeje.
It added that the immediate past Owa, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, did not notify the state government of the completion of the selection process for Orolugbagbe before his demise.
The statement further read, “We state without any equivocation that the governor will only approve the selection and appointment of Odole whenever the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland completes the selection process and notifies the state government.
“The former Odole, High Chief Ayinde Oladele Jeje, who is the last Odole of Ilesa in the government’s record, was made the substantive Odole upon the notification of the government by Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran.
“Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran had not notified the state government of the completion of the selection of Mr Adebola Orolugbagbe before his demise, despite the length of the intervening period, and consequently, Mr Adebola Orolugbagbe remained an ordinary person, as he was unable to vote during the process of selecting Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup as Owa Obokun Adimula.
“Therefore, Mr. Adebola Orolugbagbe’s claim to any title is unrealistic and delusional.”
When contacted for a reaction, Orolugbagbe, in response to The PUNCH, sent a terse reply: “Ok. I will call you later on.”
The PUNCH reports that on December 27, 2024, former Osun State Deputy Governor, Adesuyi Haastrup, emerged as the new Owa Obokun of Ijesaland.
Then Prince Haastrup, from the Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House, was elected as the Owa-elect during a selection process conducted by kingmakers at the Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Bilaro Ruling House, Isaac Haastrup, described the process as free and fair.
It partly read, “Looja Clement Adesuyi Haastrup of Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House has been elected as the Owa Obokun Ajimoko III and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland.”
Since assuming office, Oba Haastrup has set up a panel on conduct, chieftaincy matters, and land disputes, tasked with handling complaints from community members with a view to resolving them amicably.
