From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
Crisis is imminent in Ago-Are Community, Atisbo Local Government, Oyo State, no thanks to a lingering chieftaincy tussle.
Already, the community is sharply divided, with youths planning to take up arms against themselves and some kingmakers.
The imminent crisis borders on an alleged strange selection of a successor to the vacant throne, described by some stakeholders as “unacceptable and negation of age-long tradition in the selection process’’.
The immediate past community head, Aare of Ago Are, Oba Jubril Oyesiji Oladoke, joined his ancestors in May this year after about 39 years of peaceful reign.
About two months after the demise of the ruler, a family meeting of the next ruling house (Edu) was convened where 15 candidates emerged to vie for the vacant stool.
Names of interested aspirants were later presented to the community kingmakers for screening through Ifa oracle divination and in line with the age long customs and tradition.
But it was learned that rather than allowing age-long traditional status quo in the process of selecting a new monarch for the community, the kingmakers opted for orthodox religious method.
The community has eight kingmakers but two are dead, remaining six.
The six kingmakers, four Christians and two Muslims, jettisoned the traditional selection method, secretly picked two among the contesting candidates and voted along religious affiliation.
At the end of the ‘secret’ election, a christian candidate was said to have emerged victorious.
This ‘strange’ selection by the kingmakers elicited anger and uproar from many indigenes, including the remaining 14 candidates who contested for the throne.
Led by Prince Taoheed Oyekola Olakanla, they declared: “It is unfortunate that the kingmakers allowed self centredness and greed to prevail over Ago Are traditions and customs. Since July 7 this year that the kingmakers conducted
their strange, kangaroo, alien and unlawful election to select another Oba, why has it been difficult for them to make the pronouncement? All the contesting candidates, who are also Princes, vehemently rejected the selection process. We have also forwarded our grievances to the appropriate authorities, notably the state government and the Alaafin
of Oyo, who is the consenting authority and Permanent Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs”.
Also, five princes from the same ruling house kicked against what they referred to as “unlawful exclusion of our vested rights’’.
Spokesman for the aggrieved princes, Semiu Bolaji Opeloyeru, said: “We find it incomprehensible and unacceptable the activities of both the ruling house and the kingmakers’’.
They added that their rights to seek appointment into the Aare stool had been jeopardised by the duo who have
refused to adhere to all relevant laws regulating their conduct in this regards.
The ruling house, apparently feeling the heat, ordered the
cancellation of the initial selection and directed the kingmakers to follow suit and ensure strict compliance with the age-long traditions as well as ensure participation of all interested candidates.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, also intervened and warned the kingmakers against neglect of their community heritage in the name of orthodox religion, especially on the selection of successor to the vacant stools.
He said any attempt to circumvent the age-long traditions and condemn the legacies of their forefathers to the dustbin of history, rather than preserving and recognising them, always lead to crises and disharmony.
Meanwhile, security agents are already patrolling the community to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
