The family of the late Owa of Idanre Kingdom, Oba Frederick Adegunle Aroloye, in the Idanre Local Council Area of Ondo State, has expressed concern over the alleged attempt by some officials of the state government to manipulate the process of selecting a new monarch for the community.
While describing the situation as a dangerous plot, the family, in a petition addressed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, alleged connivance on the part of the officials with an individual described as an ineligible applicant.
According to the family through their solicitor, Akinyemi Omoware, there were moves to subvert the registered chieftaincy declaration and impose the ineligible on the community.
The family had notified the state government and sought approval to commence the process of filling the vacant stool following the demise of Oba Aroloye in 2024.
While warning against any attempt to impose an ineligible applicant, the family maintained that the situation will amount to a direct assault on tradition, law, and the collective will of the people, with grave consequences for peace and stability in the ancient town.
They called on governornor to intervene urgently to halt what they described as an unfolding political conspiracy, insisting that the rule of law must prevail over political interests.
The family state: “Mr. Governor, please be informed that contrary to the clear, unambiguous and seamless provisions of the Registered Declaration, some agents of the government; particular at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are conniving with and or giving undue support to one Mr. Kayode Aroloye with a motive to circumventing the provisions of the Registered Declaration.
“Your Excellency, it is important to let your government know that notwithstanding the above clear and unambiguous condition, it is in the public domain that the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government is giving assurance and undue recognition to a non-eligible person of Mr. Kayode Aroloye. This singular attempt to foist an ineligible candidate on the Ruling House may cause crises, breach of peace, and possibly lead to a breakdown of law and order.
“Rather than adhering to this obligation, it is the opinion of our client that the Ministry is colluding to sideline the Registered Declaration and the White Paper; boycott the kingmakers preparatory to appointing warrant chiefs to circumvent the Registered Declaration.
“In carrying out this sinister motive, a faceless petition was written to the Ondo State Anti-Corruption Agency with a view to using its report to indict the kingmakers in order to pave the way for the appointment of warrant chiefs. This is totally strange to the Chief Law.
“By the provision of the Chiefs Law, warrant chiefs are appointed to replace deceased kingmakers ONLY where the existing kingmakers do not form a quorum to carry out the selection process.
“From the 12 recognized kingmakers in the Registered Declaration, 9 kingmakers are alive and they form quorum to carry out the selection. Hence, it is needless, save for deceptive motive, to think of appointing warrant chiefs in the circumstance.”
In this article