Ondo okays three ruling houses to produce Okitipupa monarch
From Julius Alabi, Akure
THREE ruling houses have been endorsed by the Ondo State government to vie for the Idepe-Okitipupa stool.
This may put to an end the dispute over who becomes the next Jegun of Idepe-Okitipupa land.
The struggle for the stool turned violent last March when supporters of the aspirants clashed with several lives lost and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
The state government in a white paper on the report of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis released at the weekend amended the recommendation on the number of ruling houses from four to three.
The ruling houses are Akinjokun, Meghojuaye and Eretolu Moko.
Although, the commission had recommended four Ruling Houses which has generated a lot of controversies in the town.
The government also approved nine kingmakers with Chief Odunwo Petu as the chairman. The ruling houses will rotate the stool among themselves with Eretolu Moko taking the first shot.
The white paper stipulates that persons qualified to become the monarch of the town must be a male only and member of one of the approved ruling house.
The kingmakers are expected to finalise arrangements for the installation of a new Oba.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Akureland Princes Adeyinka Adesida has sought God's intervention in the lingering Obaship tussle in the state capital.
She spoke at a prayer session at the weekend, led by the General Overseer of Spirit and Life Bible Church, Mrs. Eunice Gordon-Osagiede, to seek the restoration of peace to Akure.
The Obaship tussle, which began shortly after the death of Oba Adebanjo Adesida, has pitted the members of the Osupa Ruling House against themselves.
The family ought to produce the next Deji of Akure. The Adesida Ruling House has, however, presented a candidate to occupy the stool pending the resolution of the feud.
The kingmakers had picked Prince Adegbola Adelabu as the Deji-elect but a faction of the ruling house kicked against it, claiming that he is not from their lineage. This paved the way for Prince Sunday Adejuyigbe to join the race.
The weekend prayer session has the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Youths and Social Development, Princes Ronke Ajayi Olufolaji, representing the state government. Some traditional rulers were also in attendance.
It lasted for two hours and was held at the Deji Palace as the state Overseer of the Four Square Church. Rev. Victor Iwala led the opening prayer.
Gordon-Osagiede prayed for peace to reign in Akureland and Nigeria, declaring that the country would not witnessed any bloodshed again.
Prince Adesida said that Nigerians and Akure indigenes need to thank God for what he has done to keep the nation together.
"I know that after this special fellowship, this country and Akureland will not remain the same again and that peace will continue to reign in the country," she noted.
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