Governor Adeleke’s Removal Of Oba Famodun A Witch Hunt

The people of Igbajo in Boluwaduro local government of Osun state Monday described the nullification of the process that led to the installation of Oba Adegboyega Famodun, as Owa of Igbajo by Governor Ademola Adeleke as a witch hunt and political vendetta.

Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemo, secretary to the Owa Oke-ode ruling house, alleged that Governor Adeleke did not announce the reselection process of the monarch for any other thing but because the monarch was immediate-past state chairman of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun.

Flanked by High Chiefs Adewumi Taiwo, Babaloye Akeran, Emmanuel Oladejo, the Odofin of Igbajoland, Owa-in-council, and some kingmakers, Adeyemo stated that some aggrieved chiefs had approached the court to challenge the emergence of Oba Famodun and the state government who is a respondent in the suit had filed a preliminary objection before the court.

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“We wish to remind Governor Adeleke that his government order as contained in the recently published White Paper for the re-selection process of a new Oba is against the tradition and custom of Igbajo when the princes from Omo Owa Oke-Ode ruling house and the kingmakers had selected Oba Phillips Adegboyega Famodun as the authentic Owa of Igbajo on November 22, 2022.

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“We are making it abundantly clear to Governor Adeleke and the whole world that all the due processes were followed by the chieftaincy law of the land for the selection starting from the ruling houses to the kingmakers, to the local government before the king was announced and installed.

“We are making it explicitly clear that the tradition of installing the Owa of Igbajo cannot be reversed because the traditional rites cannot be performed twice in an Oba’s lifetime.

“The re-selection order of Governor Adeleke for another Owa of Igbajo is oppressive, vindictive and vendetta-laden and against the rule of law. More so, when all the aggrieved princes are already challenging the emergence of Oba Famodun in the competent court of law via suit No. HIK/1/2023 in Prince Olaniyi Akande and others, including Prince Ademola Makinde, Prince Awodola Tunde, and Prince Esan Sunday Vs the executive governor of Osun state.

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“We want to state clearly that the governor is the defendant in this case and that the government of Osun has filed a preliminary objection to strike out the case in favor of Oba Famodun,” Adeyemo said.