Ruling house accuses Kwara govt of imposition of traditional ruler, calls for review

Ruling house accuses Kwara govt of imposition of traditional ruler, calls for review

Crisis looming in Idofian community, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara over alleged imposition of traditional ruler on the community by the State government.

InsightMedia gathered that the Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on Thursday, January 4, 2024 presented staff of office and certificate to Prince Jamiu Olanrewaju Omikunle as the Oludofian of Idofian.

The presentation ceremony, held at the Government Secretariat in Ilorin, was presided over by the Commissioner, Aliyu Batta.

The stool of Oludofian has been vacant since June 2021 when the late Oba Zubair Oyesoro died after ruling for 55 years.

Scheming for who succeeded the late monarch started late in 2021 and reached peak in 2022.

According to those who spoke with our Correspondent, indigenes of the community are currently challenging the recognition of Omikunle as a ruling house, insisting that only two ruling houses exist in the community. They are Agbalaya and Oloyi ruling houses.

The Kwara State gazette reads, “There are 2 ruling houses in Idofian. They are Oloyi and Agbalaya ruling houses. This was brought about by the fact that the first ruler of Idofian married two wives who gave birth to a son each. The senior wife was later separated from the junior one because of misunderstandings. When she was going, she left with the son.

When the son was favoured as the next ruler of Idofian, he was made the Oba in the house where he lived with his mother. This was how two ruling houses were created in the town. The first ruling house is Oloyi while the other one is Agbalaya.”

National Periscope also gathered that the Agbalaya ruling house has petitioned the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to look into what it described as attempt to rob the ruling house by some individuals.

The petition was submitted last year and it has not been acted upon before the announcement and presentation of staff of office were made by the government.

A source within the community, who is privy to the development revealed to newsmen  that the Kwara traditional council has offered advice to the Governor on the process that led to Prince Omikunle’s emergence.

The source said, “we know that the Kwara State Traditional Council under the leadership of Emir of Ilorin has advised the government to review the process that led to the emergence of Prince Omikunle.

“We call on Governor to review this as soon as possible. Otherwise, we shall be left with no choice than to approach court.