A crisis has erupted among the kingmakers of the Ifon community in the Ose Local Government Area of Ondo as kingmakers disagree among themselves over the installation of a new monarch.
Some kingmakers in the community, in a statement, issued on Thursday, alleged that some other kingmakers in collaboration with some state government officials, were planning to impose a candidate, Prince Adelanke Odogiyon, on the town to be king.
The statement was signed by signed by the Secretary of the kingmakers, High Chief Kehinde Falowo.
The stool of Ifon community became vacant following the death of Oba Israel Adeusi who passed away in November 2020 after spending 23 years on the throne, since then, the community has yet to agree on who to fill the vacant stool.
According to the statement, the kingmakers who rejected the choice of Prince Odogiyan are, High Chief Adigun John Dayo, High Chief Leke Ayodele Samuel, High Chief Ayodele Eniolorunda, High Chief Dairo Joseph Eniolorunda and High Chief Bishop David Oride.
Others include High Chief Akindele Adejo Igbewa, High Chief Seyi Oshodi, High Chief High Kehinde Falowo Peter, High Chief Ekundayo James Taiwo, and High Chief Abiodun Aisida.
In the statement, the kingmakers alleged that Odogiyan had presented, to the government, some people in the community as kingmakers to support him (Odogiyan) to be the monarch.
They also declared that they were not part of the arrangement by the kingmakers to present Prince Adelanke Odogiyon to the state government as the Olufon-elect, stressing that anyone parading himself as the monarch of the town was an impostor, and such actions contradicted the town’s traditions and customs.
The statement read: “We got information from a reliable source, of the arrangement by Prince Adelanke Odogiyon to present to the state government some group of people tagged kingmakers.
“We then deem it necessary to inform Ondo State Government, Ose Local Government, the entire people of Ifon and the general public, that we are not party to that arrangement by Prince Adelanke and for the government to equally know that these impersonators are not members of the kingmakers as the real and original kingmakers are presently at Ifon doing our duties.
“It would be recalled that Prince Adetoyese Odogiyan Adelanke was put up for confirmation as Olufon of Ifon last year but after consultations with all the necessary organs saddled with the responsibilities of confirming Olufon in line with all the procedures and processes, he was vehemently rejected and on the rejection we stand.”
Similarly, the statement added that this singular act of presenting fake individuals as kingmakers speaks volumes of the desperation of Prince Adelanke to become the Oba, saying that this will not stand as they remain and stand for the truth.
However, another kingmaker, High Chief Femi Ajakaye, denied the imposition of Odogiyon to be the monarch of the town.
He warned those behind the allegation to stop dragging the state government into the selection of a new monarch.
The high chief explained that the state government invited all the kingmakers for a meeting in Akure but out of the 13 warrant chiefs only five were present and the meeting was called off over failure to form a quorum.
“We have no power to impose a new monarch on the town but we must follow due process and all the noise over imposition are blatant lie,” Ajakaye averred.
Also in his own reaction, Prince Odogiyan denied the allegation of presenting fake kingmakers, describing the allegation as untrue and unfounded.
He said there was no plan to present fake kingmakers to the state government.
“It was the state government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that invited all the Kingmakers to a meeting in Akure but I have no hand or influence in the meeting,” the prince stated.