Osun kingship Crisis: New king breaks into seclusion to observe traditional rites

The newly appointed Aare of Iree,  Muritala Oyelakin, on Friday, invaded the Odofin’s compound in Iree and broke the door leading to King’s seclusion shrine to commence traditional rites.

It would be recalled that Governor Ademola Adeleke recently ordered the removal of Oba Rapheal Oluponnle through a government White Paper and ordered that a new process should be commenced.

But Oba Oluponle, who was appointed by the immediate past Governor Gboyega Oyetola insisted that he remains the Aare of Iree, saying no court has proclaimed that he is not the King of the town.

This have led to crisis in the town as two Kings are laying claim to the throne.

On Friday, it was gathered that Oyelakin broke into the shrine with some suspected hoodlums and unknown local hunters from outside the town, shooting sporadically into the air before they left abruptly without performing any rites.

It was learnt that the new king could not performed the rites when traditional chiefs in-charge of the process refused to turn up, claiming that the same had been performed on Oba Rapheal Ademola Oluponnle, and repeating it for Oyelakin would be sacrilegious and manipulative.

The chiefs, namely Asalu, Odofin and Oluode, insisted that until Oba Oluponnle joins his forefathers, the items being used to perform such traditional rites would not be retrieved and applied on any other person.

The Asalu of Iree, Chief Taiwo Oguntobi, who spoke on the matter stressed that authentic king for Iree town is Oba Ademola Oluponle.

Oguntobi said, “I am the head of the traditionalists in Iree town as the Asanlu of Iree Land, I am not part of the process for the selection of the new king appointed by the government.

“The traditional rite for any king should commence from the deity that I am in charge but nothing of such. They used cutlasses to break into the house of Odofin today( Friday) which ought to be the place of seclusion. The family of Odofin were opposed to that.

“We, the representatives of the community who ought to be there are not present for any rite for the new appointed king, we did not perform any rite for him.

“If they want make anybody king in Iree, Asanlu, Odofin and Olu-Ode must be present. The Oogboni, Olosun group must be represented, including the six Iwarafara must be present. But with the new king, nothing of such, none of these people were present.

“The authentic king for Iree town is Oba Ademola Ponle which all the traditional chiefs and the town are in support of. He is our king. We have performed all rites for him any other person aside him is fake. What the rites that authenticate has been given to Oba Ponle, and another one can’t be reproduce unless he die. “

Reacting to the development, Oyelakin stated that he has performed all the necessary rites as the new king of Iree town.

His words: “After the announcement I entered the town yesterday, I came with many people into the town, I went round the town yesterday to register my presence. I informed the kingmakers.

“We started the rite yesterday, we started the rite at Asalu deity where all traditional chiefs were present including the Iwaramefa.

“Myself and the chiefs slept at the place we started the rite yesterday from 10pm to 10Am. This was witnessed by sons and daughter of Iree community. The president of Iree Progressive Union was also present.

“The rite is led by the Odofin of the town. I visited the Odofin house, part of the places for the rite, I did not enter, I just step my feet at the entrance three times.

“There is no crisis in town at all, the residents were happy about my appointment. The gunshots is just part of our tradition.”

credit- westernpost