The delay in having a substantive OWALOKO of ILOKO-IJESA on throne has generated controversies and drawn negative effects on the people and chiefs of the ancient town.
7years after the demise of Oba Oladele Olashore CON, the throne has been empty till now and the people of Iloko-Ijesa have been living without directions and spiritual guidance.
Nobody has been able to act as the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa and other capacities because the decision of the minorities/power barons tallies not with the decision of the majority/people. This act has not only subjected the town to ridicule but has deprived the town of tapping into opportunities in terms of leadership and economy.
The vacuum has slowed down the rate of development of Iloko-Ijesha and progress of the people who were denied the right to be led by the rightful owner of the throne.
Recall that there are 15 Kingmakers in Iloko-Ijesha but as at 2015 when the selection exercise commenced only 11 Kingmakers were alive and the State Government appointed 4 warrant Kingmakers to join the surviving kingmakers for the purpose of selecting the most suitable candidate for the ALOKO stool while the names of 7 cleared Candidates were forwarded to the Kingmakers, Two out of the 4 warrant kingmakers did not participate in the selection exercise for the reasons best known to them.
The 7 candidates are. 1. PRINCE ADE DANIEL FAMUBONI ALATISE. 2. PRINCE GBENGA STEPHEN ALATISE. 3. PRINCE OLALEKAN ODUNTAN OLOWU. 4 . PRINCE ISAAC AJEWOLE OLOWU. 5 PRINCE AKEEM OLUSAYO OGUNGBANGBE. 6 PRINCE OLATUNDE OLASHORE. 7. PRINCE IFEOLUWA OLADIMEJI EYEBIOKIN.
The Election/Selection was conducted on the directives of the State Government by the authorized officers of ORIADE LG and witnessed by the representatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, National Orientation Agency, Nigeria Police and so on.
In a Credible, free, fair and transparent election held on AUGUST 26, 2015 by the 13 kingmakers, PRINCE AKEEM OLUSAYO OGUNGBANGBE emerged victoriously as the ALOKO ELECT with 11 votes and his runner-ups; Prince Gbenga ALATISE and Prince Olatunde OLASHORE had a vote each while the remaining 4 candidates did not score any vote.
The Nomination, presentation, selection and appointment of PRINCE AKEEM OGUNGBANGBE as the ALOKO ELECT were in accordance with the due process of law, equity and good conscience, the native law and custom of Iloko-Ijesa, and that of the 2006 ALOKO registered Chieftancy declaration.
We are still waiting for the approval of *Prince AKEEM OGUNGBANGBE* as the new ALOKO of ILOKO-IJESA.
*OLORUNFEMI Olatunji Awokoworldwide writes from Iloko-Ijesha.*
