Two prominent monarchs in the State of Osun are poised for a battle royale over the leadership of the Council of Obas in the state.
For some time now, especially after the demise of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, former Ooni of Ife, who was the chairman of the council since the creation of Osun state in 1991, Oba Wahab Adedotun Bibire 1, Orangun of Ila Orangun and Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, Owa Obokun of Ilesa have been at loggerheads over who occupies the acting chairman position until government announce a substantive chairman.
The meeting of the Council of Obas which was held at the Conference Hall, Ministry of Finance, Secretariat, Abere Osogbo last week Thursday was said to be stormy as the leadership matter reared its head again.
Oba Aromolaran claimed there was a unanimous decision by the Obas at the meeting that he should assumed the leadership of the council pending the announcement of a new leader by the state government.
The monarch insisted that, “we [obas] met today and discussed the chairmanship of the council. Kabiyesi Ataoja of Osogbo moved that I should not only continue as the acting chairman but as the chairman from today”. He said.
But in a reaction to the claim of Owa, the Orangun of Ila in a telephone chat with New Mail Online dismissed such attempt to turn history upside down as a mere dream that cannot stand the test of Yoruba history.
According to him: “The Owa cannot re-write Yoruba history now. The position of Orangun of Ila is clear as far as Yoruba history is concerned. Although I was not at the meeting on Thursday, I was reliably informed that the members of Obas Council never voted for Owa Obokun nor told him to continue as chairman.
“Although the Ataoja of Osogbo was said to have touted something like that but the Council never sanctioned it. We are waiting for the government to do something over the matter”. He insisted.
One of the Obas at the Thursday meeting who spoke to NewMail but won’t like to be quoted corroborated the account earlier given by Orangun of Ila.
“I was at the meeting and we never at any point in time reached a consensus that Kabiyesi Owa Obokun should mount the saddle of leadership of the Council. I will rather sue for caution and a due consultation of our history on the position of the paramount rulers now aspiring to lead so that we can be properly guided on the matter.
“We need to ensure their is no rancour among the Obas in Osun so that our subjects and the state can continue to witness peace and progress.”
Meanwhile, the palace of Ooni of Ife has observed that instead of bickering over the leadership of the Council of Obas, the newly installed Oba Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi is concerned about building bridges of unity, progress and development in Yorubaland noting that the primacy of the Ooni over other Obas in Yorubaland is deeply rooted in history.
Biyi Odunlade, a spokesperson for Ooni Ogunwusi stated that the Ooni is interested in peace and progress of Yorubaland.
“Kabiyesi Ooni of Ife though well aware of historical position as the head of all Yoruba Obas does not want to be involved in any form of controversy. He is much more preoccupied with how to foster unity among Obas in Yorubaland so that they can galvanize all Yorubas for the growth and development of the Yoruba nation,” he stated.
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