Asade Family Seeks Fresh Nomination Over Onipokia's Stool

ABEOKUTA – A royal family from the Iwaye Dodo ruling house in Ipokia local government, Asade royal family has called on Ogun State Government and Governor Ibikunle Amosun to nullify the selection of any candidate for the vacant stool of Onipokia of Ipokia kingdom and order for a fresh nomination process.

The family said, the new selection process would allow legitimate candidate for the ancient throne be chosen among the qualified candidates.

The family stated this on Wednesday in an open letter signed by Prince Adejare Adebisi and addressed to Governor Amosun.

Prince Adejare noted that, after the submission of the qualified eight candidates to the vacant stool of Onipokia by Iwaye Dodo ruling house to the Ipokia local government, some kingmakers allegedly went ahead to picked one Yisa Sola Olaniyan in an election process shrouded with ambiguity and controversy.

Adejare added that, despite cancellation of the Yisa Olaniyan selection and declaring the process as null, void and of no consequence by the Ipokia local government, the “self-acclaimed” Oba-elect is still observing the pre-coronation rites in Ipebi.

He said the development questioned the sincerity of the state government as the people of Ipokia are still watching helplessly while the Ipebi traditional rites of Yisa Olaniyan is ongoing day and night without any check after three weeks the government letter on the cancellation of the selection process has been served.

Prince Adejare explained further that, the 1956 Chieftaincy Declaration in respect of selection of Oba of Ipokia, states unambiguously that it is only upon the absence of a suitable candidate of patrilineal decent that a female line comes into consideration.

He added that, in the list presented to the kingmakers, four out of the eight candidates are from the patrilineal descent, noting that, the kingmakers could not consider any suitable candidate among the four qualified male candidates but a candidate from the matrilineal descent.

He however, alleged financial inducement to the selection of Yisa Olaniyan by the five kingmakers.

Part of the letter reads: “And even when the process was cancelled and declared null and void and of no consequence by the government in a letter Ref No: IPLG. 639/217 dated 13th May, 2019 duly endorsed by Adeniyi A. K. on behalf of Ipokia Local Government chairman and the so called “Oba Elect” and the kingmakers were served, Prince Yisa is still in Ipebi in Iwaye Dodo Royal compound observing an illegal 3 months pre coronation rites.

“It becomes difficult for the people of Ipokia to believe the sincerity of the State Government in this matter as the letter served has not changed the situation in Ipokia. Even, all the security agencies including the police, SSS and NSCDC that were believed to have been served with the letter of cancelation of the selection process are still watching helplessly while the IPEBI traditional rites of Prince Yisa Olaniyan are still going on day and night in Ipokia without check.

“To this end, we are using this medium to challenge the State Government and the local government chairman on whose authorities the letter was written and served to the concerned persons to clear the air on the whole situation.

“Secondly, the 1956 Chieftaincy Declaration in respect of selection of Oba of Ipokia states unambiguously that it is only upon the absence of a suitable candidate of patrilineal decent that a female line comes into consideration. In the list presented to the traditional chiefs, four out of eight candidates are from the patrilineal descent (three from Asade family and one from Akinlade family) and the five chiefs could not consider any suitable candidate among the four qualified male candidates but a candidate from the matrilineal descent owing to allegedly grease of palm by the US based candidate.

“We wish to call on the attention of His Excellency to right the wrong by removing the Prince in IPEBI and calling for a fresh nomination process to be witnessed by the required government functionaries in a transparent manner. We believe that the government in power will do justice to our request.”