The Mogaji and members of Odunolu ruling house in Ifon Osun, Orolu Local government area have expressed gratitude to the government of Osun for resolving the age long crisis in the Olufon chieftaincy matter by adopting the 1979 Amended Olufon chieftaincy declaration which recognises the independence of each of the five ruling houses to fill the vacant stool of Olufon and which paved way for the Odunolu ruling house to present candidates for the exalted stool.
This decision is in tandem with the yearnings of the peace loving Orolu community and respect for the law which the government of Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola is noted for.
However, Odunolu ruling house also alerted the public, government and security agencies to disregard a purported call by one Prince Jide Akinyooye in the name of non existing Olaojo ruling house for the use of outlawed 1988 Olufon chieftaincy declaration made during the period of interregnum and signed by His Royal Highness, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, Olobu of Ilobu.
This position was made in a joint press release signed by Prince Wahab Oyegbile, Prince Lasisi Oyeyemi, Prince Sulaiman Oyedotun and Hon Prince Benson Adekunle on behalf of all members of United Odunolu ruling house in a joint meeting held to deliberate on the successful selection process.
It would be recalled that late Hon. Justice Olowoofeyeku of Osun State High court, Osogbo in suit no HOS/127/88 between Bello Akintola Olagunju and 8 others and the government of Osun and 11 others declared that the 1988 chieftaincy declaration which regrouped the five ruling houses into two lines of Orisafi and Olaojo was improper. Not minding the dismissal of other reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, the court also declared that the 1979 Amended Olufon chieftaincy declaration which recognises five independent ruling houses is the subsisting instrument guiding the appointment of Olufon.
It was in this spirit of justice and order that the administration of former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola appointed Late Oba Almaroof Adekunle Magbagbeola Olumoyero 11, the immediate past Olufon strictly based on the provisions of the 1979 declaration and which was not challenged in any manner by all the ruling houses in Ifon.
Why now? Do they want the government to be contradicting itself?
The release also stated that Jide Akinyooye is a desperate individual whose ambition has beclouded his reasoning by using non existent Olufon Consultative Forum to spread lies and misinforming the public.
At what time was Olufon Consultative Forum constituted and whose interest are they serving?
The individuals mentioned by Jide Akinyooye as members of the so called forum have all denied their knowledge of the said publication, and we call on the security agencies to do the needful and call him to order.
Ifon is bigger than any individual and its destiny cannot be left in the hands of self serving, desperate and confusionist.
