A fresh crisis has broken out in Ipetumodu, headquarters of Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, as princes and kingmakers clash over moves to dethrone the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, recently jailed in the United States for $4.2 million COVID-19 fraud.
Oba Oloyede was sentenced to 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko alongside Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi.
However, the Osun state government has said it cannot take action until it obtains a Certified True Copy of the judgment.
Amid the tussle for the stool, The Nation gathered that the monarch’s crown, beads, and royal paraphernalia went missing over the weekend, further heightening tension.
Speaking with The Nation on Tuesday, Prince Olaboye Ayoola confirmed that the chiefs, kingmakers, and princes, including heads of the Aribile and Fagbemokun ruling houses, held a meeting which ended in disagreement after princes pressed the kingmakers to formally petition the state government for Oba Oloyede’s dethronement.
Ayoola further alleged that the kingmakers, led by Asalu, Chief Sunday Afolabi Adedeji, had reached an understanding with security operatives to arrest some princes who had openly spoken to the media since the monarch’s conviction.
He said, “I received a threat letter two days ago warning me to stop addressing the media, but I discounted it. But today, I heard that the kingmakers are planning to use police and other security operatives to arrest some of the princes, including myself. That is not fair at all. I was told that if I had attended the meeting slated for today (Tuesday), I would be arrested alongside other princes.”
“They have even told the other 13 contestants not to attend the meeting; that is absurd. They have started their shoddy process again; they are against us for urging the Governor of Osun State to follow due process in selecting a new king.
“My life is in danger. Please help me appeal to the Commissioner of Police of Osun State and the Director of State Security, because the life of a certain prince is in danger. This is not right. I can’t even mention names — some miscreants in Ipetu have also called me, telling me to stop speaking on social media.”
Meanwhile, the head of Kingmakers, Chief Adedeji, denied the allegations.
He said, “We held the meeting yesterday, and nothing has happened yet. Stakeholders attended the meeting. The man in question is just making rubbish. Nobody is planning anything against any prince.”
Post a Comment