By ALABA OLUSOLA OKE

The Chairman, Council of Kingmakers in Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Chief Oluwatimilehin Gbemisayo, has acknowledged irregularities in the suspended process to select a new Oloba of Oba-Ile.

Gbemisayo, who is also the Elemo of Oba-Ile, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Akure.

He said the council was awaiting a fresh directive from the state government to commence a new selection process.

He said the stool became vacant following the death of the Oloba of Oba Ile on May 9, 2025.

Gbemisayo explained that the official rites to announce the traditional ruler’s death had been concluded and the state government approved the commencement of the process to select a successor in June 2026.

He said the community’s chieftaincy declaration stipulated that the next Oloba should emerge from the Elegbeje-Edo ruling house, as the late traditional ruler hailed from the Akayedo ruling house.

“The government made it clear in its letter that the next traditional ruler should come from the Elegbeje-Edo ruling house.

“Five eligible princes from the ruling house indicated interest in the stool and were screened by the council,” he said.

According to him, the five contestants are; Rena Fagoroyo, Busuyi Bayodo, Odunayo Omodara, Gbadebo Adeusi and Kola Omodara.

Gbemisayo, however, said the selection process was later suspended following protests by some indigenes, who alleged that due process was not followed and that some critical stakeholders were excluded.

He said the protesters also complained that part of the selection exercise, which ought to have been conducted in Oba-Ile, was held at the Akure North Local Government Secretariat in Itaogbolu.

“The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs summoned the kingmakers after the protest and informed us that the process had been nullified.

“We were told that the ministry would write to us through the local government to commence a fresh selection process, and we are still awaiting that letter,” he said.

He also recalled that the traditional divination conducted during the exercise produced conflicting outcomes.

He said the Ifa Oracle had initially identified one of the candidates as the preferred choice for the throne but later selected another candidate during a subsequent exercise at the local government headquarters.

“I became confused because the same Ifa Oracle chose different candidates at different stages.

“The state government was informed about the development.

“To me, something definitely went wrong in the process, either on the part of the Ifa Oracl or among us, the kingmakers,” he said.

He disclosed that each of the five contestants had paid N5 million for nomination forms, adding that the money was later refunded following a petition and a directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He said that before the process was suspended, the six-member Council of Kingmakers had conducted a vote in which Odunayo Omodara secured three votes, Gbadebo Adeusi two votes and Kola Omodara one vote.

He appealed to youths and residents of Oba-Ile to remain peaceful and patient, assuring them that the next selection process would be transparent and involve all stakeholders.

“We appeal to our youths and the entire people of Oba Ile to remain calm. The next selection process will be conducted transparently and witnessed by all concerned stakeholders,” he said. (NAN)