The youth forum in Lagere Ruling House of Ode-omu, Ayedaade local government area of Osun state have kicked against the candidacy of a 92-year-old man, Chief Bola Oladipo, as the next king of the town.
The suit preventing the kingmakers from installing Oladipo was filed at the state high court, but the absence of Justice Adedotun Grace Onibokun stalled the hearing of the suit.
It was learnt that the judge was on official assignment at the orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Ede.
The youth had in a protest letter written to the kingmakers, alleged conspiracy, arm-twisting, fraudulent misrepresentation and deliberate distortion of history and tradition in Obaship candidate selection.
The letter written by Bar Wole-Olaleye Pelumi, on behalf of the youths, said the emergence of Oladipo does not represent the interest of Lagere Ruling House whose turn it is to produce the next Alayegun of Ode-omu.
The youth of the town said Oladipo who is the Oosa of Ode-omu was announced at a meeting coordinated by Chief Ogundeji Sulaiman and Alhaji Basiru Afaraoyin, against the wish of other members.
The letter stated that Oba Lamidi Oke, the Alayegun of Ode-Omu died on the 4th of February, 2020 and since it is the turn of Lagere Ruling House, Chief Ogundeji Sulaiman conveyed a meeting on 24th February.
Letter read in part: “Much to the chagrin and dismay of all present at the meeting, the coordinators, never raised anything concerning selection criteria. Rather, they informed the whole house to send in donations for the coronation ceremony as a 92-year -old Chief Bola Oladipo (Oosa of Ode- Omu) has been chosen to fill the vacant stool.
“It was at this point the meeting came to an abrupt end as things fell apart such that the center could no longer hold. The attendees were terribly disappointed with the gimmicks and fraudulent intent of the conveners of the meeting.
“This fraudulent move shall be vehemently countered with every mechanism of the law, thus this first step of outright rejection of any nominee presented by the Lagere ruling house as such candidate was never chosen following due process, equity, fairness and good conscience.
“Our client however unequivocally states that the choice of any candidate, particularly that of Chief Oladipo shall be met with stiff opposition as that does not represent the interest of the whole ruling house.”
