Ekosin chieftaincy tussle: Ruling house stages protest, seeks govt’s intervention

The Nyanbilolu Ruling House of Ekosin in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, has cried out over moves being made by the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration to fill the vacant stool of Akosin of Ekosin.

Members of the ruling house, who staged a protest at the Osun State Government Secretariat, Abere, on Thursday, stated that they want to register their dismay and discomfort with the way and manner the state government was handling the chieftaincy issue in their community.

They made their position known in a protest letter which was signed by Bowofola Abraham and Lateef Sulaimon, Head of Family and Secretary, respectively.

The letter, which was obtained by DAILY POST, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Chairman, Odo-Otin Local Government, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Okuku and the Office of State Security Services,
Okuku.

Parts of the letter read, “Briefly, there are Five (5) Ruling Houses in the Declaration made in respect of Akosin of Ekosin Chieftaincy which are; Oyerinde, Oyesoji, Nyanbilolu, Ahunloye and Niniola, these were the Ruling Houses covered by the 1956 Registered Chieftaincy Declaration.

“Having said that, the former Akosin of Ekosin, HRH Oba Samson Babatunde Onaolapo who hailed from Oyesoji lineage died sometime in 2022, it is now the turn of Nyanbilolu Ruling House to produce the next Akosin of Ekosin based on the said Declaration.

“The Odo-Otin Local Government in a letter dated 25th October, 2022 informed the Head of Nyanbilolu family to forward the family’s nominee(s) to the Kingmaker for selection of a candidate to fill the vacant stool of Akosin of Ekosin Chieftaincy. The family forwarded the names of those interested to the Kingmakers for selection, among them are: PRINCE HEZEKIAH ILUFOYE, PRINCE LATEEF LOOKMAN, PRINCE KAYODE ASA, PRINCE SAMSOM DADA, PRINCE KAZEEM ADEPOJU AND PRINCE HASSAN GANIYU.

“Ironically, one KASALI OLAGUNJU who hails from Adio’s family (which is not a Ruling House) conspired with some of the Kingmakers and he has been parading himself as a “king” while the proper procedures of selection of candidate were not followed. It is a well known fact in the entire community that the said KASALI OLAGUNJU is not and never a member of NYANBILOLU RULING HOUSE but ADIO family.

“It should be noted that some time in 2023, we presented our matter before the Committee on Chieftaincy Matter which was set up by Your Excellency but unfortunately, when the White Paper of on 18th January, 2024 was released, our matter was not included.

“Sir, we are OMOLUABIs, Peace loving people and law abiding citizens of Osun State, Nigeria, we are not interested in any loss of lives and properties and that is the reason behind our protest to inform your Excellency to look into our matter by setting up a SPECIAL COMMITTEE to look into this anomalies and correct same before it goes out of hands. A stich in time saves nine they say.”

The family urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and save the town “from any form of violence and trauma that may arise from the tussle that may ensue as a result of disagreement on the rightful candidate for the Ekosin throne”.

Responding to the protesters on behalf of the state government, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi noted that the state government was through with the process as encapsulated in the recently released White Paper.

He asked the family to seek redress in the court of law.

“I can assure you that the Ademola Adeleke administration will strictly adhere with the decision of the court in this matter.

“It is the decision of the court that will determine the action of the state government on the matter,” the commissioner said.