Owa Obokun stool: Ofokutu royal family challenges Ajimoko-Haastrup dynasty

Owa Obokun stool: Ofokutu royal family challenges Ajimoko-Haastrup dynasty

Two royal families in Bilaro Oluodo dynasty, Ofokutu and Ajimoko- Haastrup are currently engaged in battle of wits to succeed the late Owa of Ilesha, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran.

While it has been established that the next paramount ruler of Ijesaland will come from Oluodo dynasty, the two royal families, however, are laying claims to the throne, a development that has not gone well with Ofokutu royal family which believes it is its turn to produce the next Owa Adimula.

In a statement issued by the secretary of the Ofokutu Royal Family, Prince Adetoyese Adegbohungbe, and made available to Sunday Tribune, the family appealed to the kingmakers to uphold principles of equity and fairness by considering a member of their family as the next Owa Obokun of Ijesaland.

While calling on the Agba-Ijesa to ensure a balanced and just selection process for the highly revered throne of the Ilesa community, Ofokutu emphasised that the Ajimoko-Haastrup royal family, which is also part of the Bilaro Oluodo ruling house, has already produced two monarchs for the town, leaving other families unrepresented.

But in its own reaction, Ajimoko-Haastrup family said its involvement in the selection process is guided by law and tradition.

The Ofokutu statement noted that despite repeated appeals to the Ajimoko-Haastrup family to step aside and allow the Ofokutu family a chance to produce the next monarch, their request has been ignored.

“Any attempt to nominate or appoint a candidate from the Ajimoko-Haastrup Dynasty as the next Owa by the Agba-Ijesa would violate the principles of Omoluabi, equity, and fairness,” the statement said.

The statement further chronicled the dominance of the Ajimoko-Haastrup family in the rulership history of Ijesaland. It noted that the last two Owa Obokun, Fredrick Kumokun Adedeji Haastrup and Adejumola Alexander Haastrup, who reigned from 1896 to 1901 and 1942 to 1956, respectively, were from Ajimoko-Haastrup.