Osun monarchs threaten to boycott Ooni’s coronation ceremony
TRADITIONAL rulers in Osun State may boycott Monday’s coronation and presentation of staff of office to the new Ooni Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II unless a formal invitation for the ceremony is sent by the organisers of the event.
The Owa Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, at a briefing yesterday after the monthly meeting of Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers said that monarchs in the state had not received any invitation to enable them attend the ceremony.
Oba Aromolaran has been acting as chairman of the council since the late Ooni Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II joined his ancestors in July.
The monarch emerged the substantive chairman of the council yesterday at the meeting following a motion by the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, Larooye, which was unanimously supported by other monarchs.
The Owa Adimula of Ijesaland claimed no official invitation had reached the monarchs at the end of their meeting yesterday.
He said, “if we are invited with invitation card or letter, we would go there after consulting with the governor. As at the time we concluded the meeting of Osun Council of Obas today (Thursday), we have not received any invitation from Ile-Ife about Monday’s coronation. We don’t just go to where we have not been invited.”
But, reacting to the claims that Osun traditional rulers have not been invited to Ooni’s coronation, the Chairman, Media and Publicity of Ooni coronation planning committee, Biyi Odunlade said the central planning committee had already sent out invitations to all the traditional rulers in Osun State.
Odunlade said, “I can tell you authoritatively that we have sent out invitations individually to all the monarchs in Osun State. We believe that they are one in unity, but we have to treat them individually with respect and that is why we sent the invitation card individually.”
However, when asked what would be the status of the new Ooni of Ife now that he (Aromolaran) had been adopted as the substantive chairman of the Osun Council of Obas, he said, “it is the Obas that can answer that question because they made me their chairman.”
According to Oba Aromolaran, “Today, we held a meeting of Council of Obas in Osun. During our discussion, we deliberated on the chairmanship of the council. Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun moved the motion that since I have been acting as the chairman, I should continue in that capacity as the substantive chairman and other monarchs supported the motion.”
He said, “I have been acting as chairman of the council even when the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade was alive. I usually presided over the meetings in his palace because of his old age.”
While promising not to disappoint all the traditional rulers who stood by him, the monarch said, “Now that Osun Obas have unanimously adopted me as their substantive chairman, I would work for the growth of Osun State and also collaborate with Governor Rauf Aregbesola in moving the state forward socially and economically.”
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1 Comments
Oba Aromolaran, you are just power thirsty. You cannot continue to be the Chairman of the Council once the new Ooni is inaugurated. It amounts to simple arrogance for a lesser Oba to be the Chairman in the presence of the Overall King.
We will review and take appropriate action.