An appeal has gone to the
Agba Ijesa of Ijesaland to ensure that the principles of equity, fairness and
tradition come into play in the selection process of the next Owa Obokun
Adimula of Ijesaland.
This is contained in an
appeal letter drafted by the Ofokutu Royal Family of the Bilaro Oluodo Ruling
House to the Agba Ijesa of Ijesaland.
They posited that, in
fairness to the other Royal Families in the Bilaro Oludo Ruling House, and in
the interest of the entire Ijesaland, the Ajimoko-Haastrup Royal Family that
has dominated the throne for more than 125 years should not participate in the
present selection process, and if they refuse to do the right thing, they
should not be considered by the Afobajes (Kingmakers).
The appeal letter, signed by
its Secretary, Prince Adetoyese Adegbohungbe, reads in part: "We wish
to bring the following points to your kind attention: You will recall that the
last two Owa Obokun of Ijesaland to have emerged from the Bilaro Oluodo Ruling
House were both from the Ajimoko-Haastrup Royal Family. Fredrick Kumokun
Adedeji Haastrup took the throne name of Owa Ajimoko I, and reigned from April
1896 to September 1901.
At the next opportunity for
Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House to produce the Owa Obokun, after the demise of
Kabiyesi Owa Oduyomade Aromolaran I (who reigned from June 1920 - July 31, 1942),
the Haastrup Royal Family once again seized the opportunity, with Adejumola
Alexander Haastrup ascending and taking the throne name Owa Ajimoko II. He
subsequently reigned from 10 September 1942 to 18 October 1956.
They averred that the Bilaro
Oludo Ruling House has held consistent monthly meetings for over 40 years,
attended exclusively by members of the Ofokutu and Ajimoko-Haastrup Royal Families,
until recently.
They stressed that, despite
appeals to the Ajimoko-Haastrup Royal Family to allow equity and fairness
within the 3 Ruling Houses by refraining from presenting any candidate for the
throne, it still wants to go ahead.
The Ofokutu Royal Family
therefore appealed to the Agba-ljesa not to consider or nominate a candidate
from the Ajimoko-Haastrup Dynasty as the next Owa Obokun, explaining that such
a decision would effectively obliterate the Ofokutu Royal Family which
comprises numerous families, including Adeyemi, Adebusuyi, Adegbohungbe,
Obembe, and Osundaunsi, Adeyokunnu, among others.
ABIODUN KOMOLAFE
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