We followed due process in selecting Akinrun-elect – Kingmakers

The Kingmakers of Ikirun have refuted claims in some quarters that they did not follow due process in the emergence of Akinrun-elect, Prince Yunus Olalekan.

This was disclosed during a press conference addressed by the Kingmakers on Wednesday in Ikirun, the headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State.

Addressing journalists, the Elemo Aga of Ikirun, High Chief Bamidele Onifade said the Kingmakers consulted all stakeholders including ifa Oracle before arriving at their choice of electing a new king for the town.

He disclosed that there was also an election in line with the tradition wherein six out seven Kingmakers voted for Prince Kadri to emerge

Chief Onifade said “As Yoruba people, and in line with our culture and established chieftaincy declaration in Ikirun, consultation of Ifa Oracle is a condition precedent in the selection of an Akinrun of Ikirun,’ Chief Onifade stated.

“We, the kingmakers, consulted the Ifa Oracle and the name of Prince Yunus Olalekan Kadri kept coming out everywhere we went.

“Out of the seven kingmakers in the town, six voted for Kadri, while one person voted for another candidate who was also from the Obaara ruling house.”

However, the selection of the Akinrun-elect has been greeted with twists and turns from various interests in different quarters in the last few days.

The latest was from some members of Obaara ruling house of Akinrun-elect, Prince Kadiri with their rejection of the process which produced him.

Addressing a press conference elsewhere in Osogbo, some members of the ruling house who branded themselves ‘concerned Ikirun youths’, appealed to the State government to declare the process null and void.

They urged the government to set a committee to investigate the process and the claims of all parties involved.

“We feel that the purported selection process of the new Akinrun which according to the Eesa of Ikirun, Chief Lawal Adetoyese Kareem is faulty. This is so because the Eesa who doubles as head of the Kingmakers was unable to reach his colleagues 72 hours prior to the purported selection.

He also claimed that they usually meet on daily basis to make decisions on how to govern the town and the way forward but they were unavailable two days to the purported selection process.

“As concerned Ikirun youths, we believe that the act is undemocratic and negate the due procedures of selecting who will fill the vacant stool” the group lamented.