02 December 2013
Two factions fight over oba stool in Ondo community
Policemen have been deployed to Ode-Irele in Irele council of
Ondo State to prevent a bloody clash by factions claiming rights to the
town's throne. An attempt by a faction to the stool to install a
parallel monarch for the town, weekend, reportedly almost led to a clash in the community.
We learnt that trouble started when some members of a rival ruling house of Opetusin who got a favourable Okitipupa High Court ruling against the incumbent monarch, the Olofun of Irele Oba Olanrewaju Lebi of the Oyenusi ruling house attempted to install one Prince Bamidele Ekunsanmi.
They reportedly forced open the shrine of Malokun, local deity that is said to be central to the installation rites of an Olofun, and attempted to perform traditional rites for Ekunsanmi, a medical doctor.
Oba Lebi ascended the throne in 1993. But they were repelled and prevented by supporters of Oba Lebi from performing the rites. Police were invited and some arrest made.
Some policemen have been stationed at strategic points in the town especially the Malokun Shrine to nip in the bud any crisis.
The state police image maker, Wole Ogodo, confirmed that policemen were deployed to the town to prevent the two sides from attacking each other and to maintain peace in the community.
He said the Oretunsin ruling house got a judgment against the monarch but that the Oba has appealed the judgment.
He noted that until the appeal is determined, the status quo should be maintained "because not only did the monarch appealed, he also sought and got a stay of execution of the lower court pronouncement."
We learnt that trouble started when some members of a rival ruling house of Opetusin who got a favourable Okitipupa High Court ruling against the incumbent monarch, the Olofun of Irele Oba Olanrewaju Lebi of the Oyenusi ruling house attempted to install one Prince Bamidele Ekunsanmi.
They reportedly forced open the shrine of Malokun, local deity that is said to be central to the installation rites of an Olofun, and attempted to perform traditional rites for Ekunsanmi, a medical doctor.
Oba Lebi ascended the throne in 1993. But they were repelled and prevented by supporters of Oba Lebi from performing the rites. Police were invited and some arrest made.
Some policemen have been stationed at strategic points in the town especially the Malokun Shrine to nip in the bud any crisis.
The state police image maker, Wole Ogodo, confirmed that policemen were deployed to the town to prevent the two sides from attacking each other and to maintain peace in the community.
He said the Oretunsin ruling house got a judgment against the monarch but that the Oba has appealed the judgment.
He noted that until the appeal is determined, the status quo should be maintained "because not only did the monarch appealed, he also sought and got a stay of execution of the lower court pronouncement."
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