An Osogbo high court on Thursday granted the Lafogido Ruling House of Ile-Ife an injunction restraining the Ife king makers and Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesolsa from allowing the Giesi ruling house from presenting candidates for the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife.
The injunction, which was granted by Justice A. A. Aderibigbe is sequel to a suit filed by the Lafogido ruling house seeking the restraining order against the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Solomon Omisakin and the Lowa of Ile-Ife, Chief Joseph Ijaduola, pending the determination of the matter before the court.
The kingmakers in Ile-Ife had requested nomination of candidates from the Giesi Ruling House for the selection process of the new Ooni of Ife.
The matter, with suit number, HOS/16/2015, was filed on behalf of the Lafogido family by Sooko Bunmi Adegoke, Prince Marcus Adebola Akinmoyero as plaintiffs and Governor Aregbesola, Omisakin and Ijaduola as defendants.
The injunction reads in part; “An order of interim injunction is granted restraining the defendants from accepting nomination, selecting candidates or taking any steps whatsoever in the process of selecting the the new Ooni of Ife to fill the vacant stool pending the determination of the motion on notice dated September 15, 2015. Returns date shall be Thursday, September 23, 2015.”
The Ife king makers at Monday’s press conference in Ooni’s palace asked the Giesi ruling house to commence the process of presenting candidates for the Ooni stool based on 1980 Ife chieftaincy declaration which allowed rotational method for ascendancy to the throne.
Sookoo Adewoyin, head of Sooko of Lafogido Ruling House told newsmen Thursday that the process adopted by the state government and kingmakers allowing Giesi Ruling House only to present candidate(s) to fill the vacant stool was alien to Ife.
But a socio-cultural group, the Ife Cradle Youths has berated Lafogido and Ogboru Ruling Houses for instituting legal action against the state government, Ife kingmakers and Giesi Ruling house over the selection process of Ooni stool.
The group in a statement issued in Osogbo asked the two aggrieved ruling houses to retrace their steps in the interest of peace and preservation of the Ooni traditional title.
The co-ordinator of the group, Kunle Elusayo in the statement expressed disappointment with the court action, warning that the two houses are taking the matter too far.
According to the group, “the 1980 declaration is clear enough and would promote peace and the prestige of the Ooni stool.
The group also lamented that the two families, which headed to court were not laying good examples for the coming generations.
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