The people of Bode-Osi in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of Osun State have taken their grievances to the state government, staging a protest at the Government Secretariat in Osogbo to demand that Governor Ademola Adeleke formally recognise Prince Sabitu Biliaminu Ariyo as their new Oba.
The protesters accused the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, of attempting to manipulate the traditional ruler selection process against the outcome of a vote conducted by kingmakers, and called on Adeleke to intervene before the dispute escalates into unrest.
The selection process had been delayed after two of the six kingmakers died, leaving the remaining four unable to proceed. The Osun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs subsequently approved two warrant chiefs — Alhaji Akibu Alidu Abiodun and Liadi Oluwafemi Samuel — to fill the vacancies, as confirmed in a letter signed by the Director of Administration of Ola-Oluwa LGA, T.O. Onaleye. When the reconstituted panel eventually voted on April 8, four of the six kingmakers backed Prince Ariyo.
The delay in announcing the outcome prompted the protest.
The Head of Chiefs in Bode-Osi, High Chief Oosa Kareem Muskilu Olayemi, appealed to the governor to gazette the selection without further delay. “We want the governor to help us announce the person we selected,” he said. “We are also pleading with the Chief of Staff to do the right thing by accepting our choice.”
Olayemi alleged that Akinleye was backing a rival candidate despite the result, and said the community remained dissatisfied with what it described as an attempt to override the kingmakers’ decision in defiance of a court order.
The Agoro of Bode-Osi, High Chief Fatai Ayinla, maintained that the exercise followed due process and custom. “Six chiefs participated in the process after the government approved additional representatives from some ruling compounds,” he said. “We conducted the election on April 8 and voted for Biliaminu Ariyo. He got four votes out of six.” Ayinla said preparations for the installation had already begun before the process was allegedly subverted.
The kingmakers appealed to the state government to respect the community’s decision and formally recognise their candidate. They also commended the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada (SAN), and officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for what they described as fairness in handling the matter.
In response, the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, and the Governor’s spokesperson, Malam Rasheed Olawale, assured the Bode-Osi community that the right course of action would be taken.
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