Selection Of Ooni Of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi’s 2nd In Command Turns Raucous As Committee Is Accused Of Backing Ineligible Candidate

The selection of the second in command to Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi has turned a raucous affair.

According to information available to societynowng.com

CONTROVERSY has continued to trail the process of selection of candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Obalufe of Iremo, as the process commenced at the weekend.

Ten aspirants from the Aga ruling house accused the selection committee of allegedly planning to announce the name of a particular aspirant from the female lineage. Ooni Of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi

The position of Obalufe, who is the prime minister of the ancient town and second in command to the Ooni of Ife, became vacant following the death of the late Obalufe of Iremo, Oba Solomon Omisakin.

But, the process of selecting a new Obalufe, which was being held at Ife Recreation Centre, located at Lagere, became rancorous, with contenders for the position pointing accusing fingers at the selection committee, headed by Comrade Ayoola Olafiranye.

Credible source informed the Nigerian Tribune that the committee invited all the 10 aspirants and they were 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 and that Elu was allegedly not qualified to contest.

Supporters of the contenders were said to have spoiled for a showdown should the committee announce Abayomi as the candidate for the vacant Obalufe stool.

One of the contenders, Fatai Adiyeloja, who expressed worry over the development, warned the aggrieved supporters of contestants in Ife to remain calm, saying there was the need to maintain peace and tranquility in the ancient town.

However, a traditional chief in Ife, Chief Atimi Bada, Logun Apata of Ile-Ife, informed journalists that “contenders for the vacant stool of the Obalufe must come from male lineage and those from female lineage could contest, only if there is no competent person from the male lineage.”

He stated that “this rancour was avoidable if the committee had done the right thing in a transparent manner. We all know that the female lineage can contest only if there is no competent person from the male lineage. But in this situation, there are nine contenders from male lineage, yet, the committee attempted to pick the only one person that came out from the female lineage. It is not right.”

The Director of Media and Public Affairs to the Ooni of Ife, Comrade Moses Olafare, however said there was no tension or crisis in Ife over the selection of new Obalufe of Iremo, explaining that “the process is ongoing and it has not been concluded.

“There are stages of the process. The only thing is that the people were just anxious to know who would emerge as the next Obalufe. The candidate for the stool would be announced before the end of this week by the appropriate authority. I can tell you that there is no problem or tension at all in Ile-Ife,” he added.

Meanwhile, the head of Aga Ruling House, Chief Bello Adiyeloja, said since the contenders had passed vote of no confidence on the committee members, the best option was to dissolve the committee to prevent avoidable trouble in the town, just as he urged the people of the town to remain calm.

The chairman of the committee, Comrade Olafiranye, refused to comment on the report of the committee, arguing that since the contenders, their supporters and other people had passed vote of no confidence on the committee, he would prefer not to comment on the issue.