Editor
November 15th, 2024.
“What actually made the whole story of the stolen crown more complex is that, we are able to identify multiple hands like that of the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr Kayode Alabi, the committee of Kingmakers, Olupo (a prominent king in igbomina land) and the Commissioner of Local Government Affairs And Chieftancy Titles in Kwara state in all of these shenanigans.” – Pa. Johnson Oyebamji.
Òró is an ancient Yoruba town located in Kwara State, the indigenous people of this modest town were ecstatically happy when it first came to their knowledge that a son of the soil, Prince Clements Oyebode Adegbola Ogundokun, Àrólé Oba Oloro Of Olufayo Ruling House has been chosen by the gods of the land to ascend the throne of his forefathers as the new Olóòró of Òró land after the demise of the former King. It was celebration galore until a seemingly travesty of justice by some of the kingmakers in what may seems as a sinister intentions of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi.
It was a shattered dream for the powerless sons and daughters of Òró Town as they are now watching with great pains, their coveted crown being stolen away by an ‘alien’ that has no royal blood in his veins (one Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye).
Òró is a big town that has 11 communities in total (it is called ‘ekun mokanla Òró’) and only four out of the 11 communities have a direct ancestral link to the throne.
Historically, it used to be Ààfin Òró alone, with 63 Obas that have reigned in the land and that is why it is called Afin Oro. However, historical document has it that there was a scenario that made Àáfin Òró not to be able to produce a candidate for the stool of Olóòró of Òró and the stool was occupied by a candidate from Okerimi Òró, only 4 Obas have reigned from Okerimi Òró so far in history. The other two ruling houses are from Agbeola Òró and Okeola Òró and they have also produced a couple of Obas.
At this juncture, it is imperative to say, Joel Oyatoye is not from any of the four ruling houses that are rightfully entitled to the throne of Olóòró Of Òró. Joel Oyatoye is not also an indegene of any of the four communities as mentioned above that have ruling houses that are entitled to the throne of Olóòró Of Òró.
Findings has it that after the demise of the last King in March of 2024, Oba Abdulrafu Oyelaran, all the Afobajes (Kingmakers) came together to nominate Prince Clement Oyebode Adegbola Ogundokun, and they immediately called on him to come back home from England to ascend the throne of his forefather, Olóòró Of Òró.
Also, the oracles of Òró land did confirm the crown must go back to Ààfin Òró. In addition, the head of Afobaje confirmed during the selection process that everywhere they went, the oracles have chosen Prince Clement Oyebode Adegbola Ogundokun out of the names of all the princes that are vying for the stool of Olóòró Of Òró. He went further to say they have started with Prince Clements Ogundokun some of the kingship rites to prepare him for the Olóòró of Òró throne until there was a twist that fingered the Deputy Governor of Kwara state, Mr. Kayode Alabi as against the nomination of Prince Clements Ogundokun as the rightful heir to the throne of Olóòró Of Òró.
According to a reliable source, the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Alabi declared that “in this new age, you do not need to come from a ruling house to ascend a traditional throne in Yorùbá land. He went further to say, it does not matter if the case is still pending in court or a restrain order to stop the selection process of the new Olóòró Of Òró is already issued by the court of law, the decision of the government in power overrides any court judgement, we are the ones in power.” – Mr. Kayode Alabi stated.
Moreover, the other intrigues to the whole shenanigans was that some of the Afobajes (kingmakers) that initially declared their support for Prince Clements Oyebode Adegbola Ogundokun now jettisoned their position to follow the dangerous path of the deputy governor by saying, “you cannot fight against the wishes of the deputy governor or the government in power; he has the final say.” As if the throne of Olóòró Of Òró is an elective office or a government appointment position.
Suffice it to say, the throne of Olóòró Of Òró is an ancestral heritage such that it is the custodial responsibility of the people represented by the Kingmakers in accordance with the customary and native laws as gazetted by the government to rightfully select the candidate for the Obaship of Olóòró Of Òró.
The Commissioner of Local Government Affairs and Chieftancy Title is not left out in this diabolical effort to thwart the due process of the system of the court of law by forging a letter to knowingly deceive His Excellency, Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak of Kwara State that the warring families at the court of law have settled out of court so that the Deputy Governor can fraudulently proceed with the nomination of a fake king, Mr. Joel Oyatoye as Olóòró Of Òró when the case is actually still pending in the court of law and the hearing date was fixed for November 4. It was on the premise of this fraudulent letter that they got the approval of the governor so that the deputy governor can hurriedly install an ‘alien’ as the Olóòró Of Òró. The civilian coup was actually perfected by the deputy governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi when on the 27th of October an ‘alien’ was coronated as Olóòró of Òró; a clear desecration of a traditional institution that had been in existence for thousand of years.
It is very saddened to say that the indigenous poor people of Òró town are wailing and groaning in pains. They are crying for their stolen crown to be returned to the rightful owner, Prince Clements Oyebode Adegbola Ogundokun.
Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak of Kwara State, Your Excellency sir, many have seen you in action when you exercised your leadership with great fear of God by making your decision based on justice, fairness and equity. A case in point as a god-fearing person was your decision to restore the Oloffa Of Offa as a first Class King and to give him back all his many years of entitlements that previous administrations have refused to give him. Yes, you did that and a lot of accolades for you across the globe.
Sir, that you are truly a great icon of justice cannot be overemphasized. We are humbly appealing to you to use your good office to correct the injustice meted to the indigenous people of Òró land to return their crown to the rightful owner, Prince Clement Oyebode Adegbola Ogundokun.
JUSTICE FOR THE INDIGENOUS POOR PEOPLE OF ÒRÓ LAND!
JUSTICE FOR CLEMENT OYEBODE ADEGBOLA OGUNDOKUN!
YES, JUSTICE MUST PREVAIL.
Pa. Johnson Oyebanji Is An Indegene Of Òró Town. He Writes From Houston Texas
