There was tension yesterday in Ile-Ife, Osun State over a disagreement arising from the selection of a candidate to fill the vacant stool of Obalufe of Ife.

Obalufe is the traditional Prime Minister and second-in-command to Ooni of Ife and plays a critical role in the running of affairs of Ife kingdom, whenever the Ooni is not around.
Obalufe is the leader of seven other traditional chiefs in the right side of Ife and holds his court in Iremo Quarters of Ile Ife.

The last Obalufe, Oba Solomon Folorunso Omisakin died during the selection process of Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi while a warrant chief was appointed to fill the vacancy to facilitate the completion of the selection process of Ooni as tradition demands.

However, controversy and disagreement arose yesterday over the selection of a new Obalufe from the Aga ruling house, the next ruling house to present a candidate for the position in line with rotational arrangement on ground.

The Guardian learnt yesterday that serious tension is brewing among supporters of the ten contenders from the Aga ruling house.

The Obalufe is the traditional ruler of Iremo quarters in Ile-Ife, head of Ife kingmakers and next to the Ooni in hierarchy according to the tradition of the ancient town.

The process of selecting a new Obalufe started with the inauguration of a committee under the chairmanship of Chief Ayoola Olafiranye.

The committee invited all the 10 aspirants and they were duly screened but before it could submit its reports, majority of the contenders accused the committee of planning to announce the name of an aspirant from the female lineage, Elu Abayomi, adding that Abayomi is not even qualified to contest.

A traditional Chief in Ife, Chief Atimi Bada, Logun Apata of Ile-Ife told our correspondent that the contenders for the vacant stool of the Obalufe must come from the male lineage and that those from the female lineage could contest only if there is no competent person from the male lineage.

However, Chairman of the committee, Comrade Ayoola Olafiranye declined comments on the report of the committee. He said since the contenders, their supporters and other people have passed vote of no confidence in the committee, he would prefer not to talk on the outcome of the screening of the aspirants.