Crisis is rocking the Akotogbo community in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State as kingmakers in the area have reportedly ignored the decision of the oracle and declared Prince Micheal Elumaro Akinfolarin as Oba- elect.
It was gathered that the Ifa oracle picked Prince Adeteye Akindele from Igodan-moko Ruling House as the Larogbo of Akotogbo to replace the late Oba Turoti Martins Jola-Ade who died in 2009.
But the selection of Prince Akinfolarin was done under the supervision of the Secretary of the Local Government, Mr. Oladipupo Temenu on behalf of the council Chairman Mr. Olusegun Ajimotokin.
Prince Akinfolarin scored four votes out of five accredited kingmakers that participated in the exercise.
Temenu stated that the kingmakers opted to elect an Oba after the oracle consultation as traditional method of selection failed to disqualify any of the contestants.
His words “It is glaring that the oracle jointly consulted by the three priests disqualified none of the candidates, nevertheless, it is a must for us to select a candidate and no other means than election.
“You, Prince Micheal Elumaro Akinfolarin, having possessed certified requirements and scored the highest number of four votes cast from election against zero, are hereby declared the winner”
But a kingmaker from Igodan-moko, Chief Ayo Omolafe, who called for the nullification of the selection process, said the kingmakers violated the modality earlier agreed upon by the two main parties.
Omolafe noted that the authentic candidate as selected by oracle divination in line with traditional modality as collectively adopted by all the five certified kingmakers of the Akotogbo community, was Prince Akindele.
His words “The exercise of today was full of irregularities when the modality registered with the state government to be adopted to select a new Oba (Ifa) was violated and we can never accept the outcome.
“The priests had earlier consulted Ifa where Prince Adeteye Akindele Sunday from Igodan-moko ruling house was revealed as authentic Oba-elect.
“But it was Irele Local Government chairman Barrister Olusegun Ajimotokin and four other Ijamas (Kingmakers) who turned things upside down after being romanced”.
Credit: The Nation