crisis rocks selection of Ooni's second in command

The selection of the new Second-in- Command to the Ooni of Ile-Ife after the demise of the late Obalufe, Oba Solomon Omisakin, late last year is now causing a row among the 10 contenders for the vacant position.

The process of the selection of the new Ife monarch’s second-in-command is being dogged by serious crisis among contestants of the Aga Ruling House where it has been zoned.


Investigations revealed that the committee under the chairmanship of Comrade Ayoola Olafiranye, set-up to carry out screening of intending aspirants vying for the vacant position, has been accused of been partisan in its selection by aspirants who vowed to use the last drop of their blood to resist who emerged in the selection process.

Sources said that the committee which invited all the 10 aspirants for screening is being accused of planning to announce the name of an aspirant from the female lineage, Elu Abayomi.

One of the contenders, Fatai Adiyeloja, who spoke to newsmen yesterday, expressed worries over the action of the committee, expressing optimism that the issue would be resolved soon.

He appealed to the aggrieved contestants to exercise caution.

The Head of the Ruling House, Chief Bello Adiyeloja said, “since the contenders could no longer trust the committee members, it has become imperative to dissolve the committee to prevent avoidable trouble in the town”.

“The will of the people would be respected and given the current situation at the stage of the selection process of the Obalufe, I have directed that the committee should be dissolved and we will take the appropriate step subsequently.”

Also, speaking on the development, a traditional Chief of the town, Chief Atimi Bada, Logun Apata of Ile-Ife said that, “the contenders for the vacant stool of the Obalufe must come from male lineage and those from female lineage could contest only if there is no competent person from the male lineage.”

“But in this situation, there are nine contenders from male lineage, yet, the committee attempted to pick the only one person that came out from the female lineage. It is not right” The Chairman of the committee, Olafiranye, said, “What else can I say when they have already rubbished everything we did and they have dissolved the committee when we have not even presented the reports of our findings to the ruling family. I cannot say anything on the issue.’’