By Dapo Falade
Prince Olatunji Olatunde emerged as the oba-elect of Imesi Ekiti Community in Gboyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State after he was duly confirmed as the authentic choice of the Agunsoye Ruling House.
Mr Oluwole Oluyemi, one of the warrant chiefs appointed by the state government to commence the process of selecting a new traditional ruler of the community, made the clarification in a statement made available to Peesreporters.com.
He made the clarification against the backdrop of media reports that the community has been enmeshed in crisis because the Oba-elect, allegedly, was not from the Agunsoye Ruling House.
Oluyemi said there was no crisis whatever in Imesi Ekiti, alleging that the head of the ruling house, Sergeant Fasunlade Adu (rtd) was only crying fowl where there was none because his anointed candidate lost out in the selection process.
He said Adu headed a screening committee set up in March, 2019 and which screened 14 candidates for the vacant traditional stool, with Prince Olatunde, eventually emerging as the oba-elect.
“When Sergeant Adu expressed preference for consultation with Ifa as the only acceptable criteria for the obaship selection, the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs in Gbonyin Local Government brought two ifa diviners.
“In the open glare of chiefs, representative of Gbonyin obas, security agencies, community leaders and in a process conducted with video recording, all the 14 candidates were screened again by Ifa. Prince Tunji Olatunde’s Ifa Ejiogbe) was adjudged the best.
“Similarly, all the warrant chiefs from all the seven quarters of Imesi voted, and Prince Tunji Olatunde emerged the choice of all the warrant chiefs.
“Prince Olatunde is listed in several minutes of meeting of the Agunsoye Ruling House, over which Sergeant Adu presided as leader. Prince Olatunde’s grandfather, the late Oba Olaibiyemi, ruled as king from the Agunsoye Ruling House from 1909 to 1954.
“It is therefore, baffling and it amounts to a very dirty fight that Sergeant Adu and his sponsors in the Diaspora have decided to paint a very peaceful Imesi Community in very bad light.
“All processes for the final installation of the Oba-elect, Prince Tunji Olatunde will proceed as soon as the instrument of selection is approved by the state government,” Oluyemi said in the statement.
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