The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has condemned Governor Ademola Adeleke’s decision to nullify the selection process that resulted in Oba Adegboyega Famodun being named Owa of Igbajo.
Tajudeen Lawal of the Osun APC stated that the government’s decision was an abuse of the governor’s executive power.
Governor Adeleke issued an Executive Order on November 27, 2022, directing the Owa of Igbajoland, Oba Famodun, and two other traditional rulers installed by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to vacate their palaces.
The Osun State Government, according to a White Paper report released on Thursday, canceled the selection processes that produced three Osun monarchs, the Aree of Iree, Akirun of Ikinrun, and Owa of Igbajo.
The state administration also ordered that the selection process be repeated.
“It is strange that Governor Adeleke, despite the pending suit, keeps hounding, humiliating, oppressing, and denying Oba Famodun his rights,” stated the APC in a statement.
“The governor’s supposed nullification of the process that produced the Owa of Igbajoland is an anomaly, a legal folly with a metaphorical foot of clay that will collapse like a pack of cards.
“The incompetent and Governor-by-proxy Ademola Adeleke’s unnecessary intervention and subsequent nullification of the selection process that resulted in Oba Gboyega Famodun as the Owa of Igbajoland is a blatant act of a meddlesome interloper in a pending legal matter.
“Governor Adeleke’s approach to the subject at hand clearly violates the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, which expressly provides for the separation of powers among the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.
“If this is the result of his arrogant Executive Order on the Obaship issue, why did Adeleke take so long to come up with such garbage, which confirms his incapacity in public office as governor of a sophisticated state like Osun?
“The fact remains that the nullification of the Obaship selection process which followed a due process can neither sit nor stand because it is a product of political vindictiveness” , Lawal went on to say.
Before being appointed Owa of Igbajo, Famodun served as the state’s APC chairman.
Similarly, the ruling houses in Iree, Boripe local government area of the state have frowned over the new white paper on Aree of Iree stool.
They also asked the town’s residents to remain calm in the face of claimed provocation, emphasizing that the white paper cannot withstand the test of time in the face of the law.
The ruling houses accused the state administration of applying a double standard and an absurdity to the judiciary by adjudicating on an issue that was already before a court of law.
Gbenga Olatunji, Secretary of the controlling houses in Iree, made this public in response to the Osun State Government White Paper, which cancelled the process of selecting an Aree for the town.
He stated, “The government has thrown mud on the face of the judiciary with such a proclamation when a competent court of jurisdictions has already reserved judgment on the same subject matter.” It demonstrates that they intend to create a fake crisis in the Iree community.
“If not for the JUSUN strike, the court would have delivered judgment on December 14th, 2023, we rejected the white paper and we strongly believe in the judiciary to do justice on the throne, it is just a question of time, that charade cannot stand, but we appeal to our people especially the ruling houses to remain calm and law-abiding.”
Adebayo Adeleke, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, denounced the white paper as a futile endeavor.
He claimed that Governor Ademola Adeleke just reinforced his ignorance of the law about the kingship process.
“If Ademola Adeleke had been properly informed, he would have known that such a statement constitutes contempt of court and a double standard in a proceeding in which parties have called witnesses and filed written addresses.
“It is a rape of the judiciary’s value and sacredness. Only in Osun will a government terminate a court proceeding.”
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