By DORCAS ELUSOGBON

A socio-cultural group, The Great Ife Movement (GIM), has urged Osun Government to suspend all processes relating to the appointment of Adewale Aderoju as the Olomoni of Oku-Omoni in Ife land.

President ‌‌‍‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌of GIM, Mr Femi Oyeyinka, made the call at a news conference in Ile-Ife on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the News conference was addressed in conjunction with The Ife Intellectual (TII) and other socio-cultural groups in the ancient town.

Oyeyinka said the call for the suspension of the obaship process was based on the need for peace, justice and fairness in Ife land.

He alleged that the process leading to the crowning of the traditional ruler did not follow the established Ife traditional procedure involving the 16 kingmakers.

Oyeyinka also alleged that Onisaka did not subject himself to the screening committee established for the consideration of candidates for traditional stools in Ife land.

He, therefore, appealed to the state government to put all processes relating to the purported appointment on hold, pending resolution of the issues raised.

The GIM president equally dismissed the claims contained in the leaflets recently circulated claiming ancestral ownership of certain lands in Ifeland, saying they were inaccurate.

He claimed that the lands currently being occupied by some communities belong to various Ife families.

Oyeyinka also alleged some parts of Ife North Local Government Area belong ancestrally to Ife community.

According to him, the length of occupation does not automatically transform customary tenancy into land ownership.

He said that GIM and other stakeholders were seeking peace and justice, urging all parties to respect established traditional procedures and avoid actions capable of creating tension between Ife and Modakeke communities.