The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has officially appointed Ademola Makinde as the new traditional ruler of Igbajo land (Owa of Igbajo) on Wednesday as he presents him Staff of Office and Instrument of Appointment.
The appointment followed the removal of Oba Gboyega Famodun, who was previously installed as the Owa of Igbajo by former governor Gboyega Oyetola in 2022.
Adeleke said that the ceremony reflects his administration’s commitment to fulfilling the desires and hopes of the state’s populace.
“Before we came on board on Nov. 27 2022, the majority of the inhabitants of this historic community expressed their dissatisfaction with the attempt made by the immediate past administration to force an Oba on Igbajo.
“The subsisting chieftaincy declaration which governs succession to the throne of the Owa of Igbajo, the 2005 Chieftaincy Declaration, recognised two ruling houses, namely Owa Iloro and Owa Oke-Ode.
“Oba Adeniyi Olufemi Fasade hailed from the Owa Iloro ruling house; hence, upon his demise, it became the turn of the Owa Oke-Ode ruling house.
“However, each of the two ruling houses also has some branches or families under it. The Owa Iloro Ruling House has nine branches or families, while the Owa Oke-Ode Ruling House has seven branches or families.
“In filling the vacant stool, the immediate past administration did not allow a level playing field for all the seven families in the Owa Oke-Odo Ruling House as it already had an anointed candidate in mind.
“This was the grouse of the majority of the citizens of Igbajo because the exercise was not in line with the custom and tradition of Igbajo,” he said.
