….Wants Kingmakers to continue selection process.
Issues surrounding the selection of new Olujare of Ijare in Ifedore local government area of Ondo State have taken a fresh twist as members of the Sejeokun Royal family and some Kingmakers of the community have described as baseless and misinformation the reports of an unrest in the town over disqualification of 9 out of 13 candidates by oracle (ifa).
The Princes and the Kingmakers also insisted that members of the Sejeokun Ruling House have been united since the selection process of new Olujare started, declaring that it is within the purview of the Kingmakers and the Royal family to choose the next king.
Some Royal family members and kingmakers who spoke anonymously with newsmen at Ijare town, noted that the affected candidates were screened out through Ifa Consultations, adding that the recent protest in the town was targeted at the Sapetu of Ijare, who is the Head of the Kingmakers to vote for who will be the next king among the four cleared princes.
The Olujare’s stool became vacant two years ago when Oba Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun, Kokotiri II, joined his ancestors and the process of selecting new monarch by Royal family and kingmakers has been causing differences in the town due to screening out of nine candidates such as Kola Oyewole whose branch of the royal family had approached the Court for redress.
However reacting, the stakeholders noted that “following the reports on the pages of news papers and social media that there is a palpable tension at Ijare community in Ifedore local government area of Ondo state over the selection of new Olujare of Ijare, the Sejeokun Royal family of the community has described the reports as baseless and misinformation putting up by some faceless people to divert public stance as regards people’s yearning over the vacant stool
of Olujare.
“The Olujare stool became vacant two years ago when Oba Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun, Kokotiri II, joined his ancestors and the process of selecting new monarch by Royal family and kingmakers has been causing differences in the town as nine out of 13 candidates such as Mr. Kola Oyewole were screened out based on alleged IFA consultations, character and self development.
“Ijare had been known for their peculiarities even down to chosen their traditional ruler and as an inundation of One ruling house ‘Sejeokun ruling house’ as detailed in chieftaincy declaration
“It was confirmed that the Royal Family members (Omowas) screened out nine of the 13 candidates, clearing four of them for the kingmakers to pick from and the family decision sent to the local government.
“The Head of the Kingmakers is trying to sabotage efforts being put in place by OMOWAS and the community, in order to force his alleged preferred candidate, Kola Oyewole who has been rejected by the community’s oracle, having failed to meet all the set criteria .
“It was noted that there was a mass protest in the town at the weekend against the Head of the kingmakers, the Sapetu of Ijare, High Chief Wemimo Olaniyan, for delaying the process of picking new monarch and that he didn’t allow the selection of new Olujare to continue.
“The vacant stool and the bid to select a new king has been the concern of the least citizen of the town which led to the protest in line with the traditional way of revisiting people’s concern in ecstatic public demand that kingmakers should give us new king.
“The regent of the Ijare community in his words appeals to the kingmakers to act like a leader and fasten the selection process.
“In these video clip the regent further said, if the Kingmakers had really loved the community, they should not be partisan and act fast in these final selection stages and to further avoid letting Obaship tussle disturb the peace of the community,” the Stakeholders said.