The controversy erupted following the arrest of a prominent kingmaker, Odeyemi Oladepo, the Otun Balogun of Ido Osun, on Wednesday evening.
According to eyewitness reports and statements from local elders, Oladepo, who is a key member of the seven-person kingmakers’ council responsible for selecting the new Olojudo, was detained by a team of policemen around 6:00 PM, same Wednesday, in the heart of Ido Osun town.
He was subsequently taken to Alagbon prison in Lagos. His arrest has ignited public outrage in the community, raising suspicions that the state government is attempting to hijack the selection process for political reasons.
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Sources from Ido Osun allege that the traditional process of choosing a new Olojudo has already been tampered with.
Community leaders claim the state government dissolved the legitimate kingmakers’ committee and replaced it with a government-appointed warrant chief, effectively sidelining the traditional selection process in favor of Governor Adeleke’s interests.
This, they say, is a direct violation of the laws governing the appointment of the Olojudo, which clearly stipulate that only the kingmakers, and not the state government, have the authority to make the selection.
An anonymous elder in the community expressed shock at the arrest, saying the process has already been infiltrated and manipulated to favor the governor’s interests. He said the arrest of Oladepo is just the latest move to completely control the selection process.
The Ido Osun community has reacted strongly to these actions, with local leaders demanding the immediate release of Oladepo and the reinstatement of the original kingmakers to oversee the process.
They also called on the state government to demonstrate transparency and fairness by publishing the list of candidates for the Olojudo stool and the criteria for selection.
Further allegations have surfaced that Jimoh Kolawole, the Oluode of Ido Osun, was also targeted by the police but was fortunate to be out of town at the time of the operation.
The community is now calling for a free and fair selection process that would result in the appointment of an Olojudo who is acceptable to all residents of Ido Osun.
The arrest and allegations of interference have raised serious questions about the integrity of the Olojudo selection process and the level of government involvement in traditional matters.
As tensions rise, the people of Ido Osun are demanding immediate action from the state government to ensure that the process remains free, fair, and in line with the community’s cultural practices.