By Eniola Ade

IBADAN – PALPABLE fear of crisis looms in the agrarian community of Ilu-Iran in Ayedire South LCDA of Osun State over who occupies the ancient stool of the community, the Oniran of Ilu-Iran after the demise of Oba Sawiyu Ayinla Alao, Adewolu 1.
Trouble started when two different letters separately addressed to both the Governor of Osun State and his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs by legal practitioners made available to our reporter alleged that a non-indigene was wrongfully presented for the vacant stool.
The two separate letters signed by A. T. Abdul Rasaq of Metro Chambers and A. F. Oladiti of Law Office of AF Oladiti on behalf of two of the ruling houses, Awanibaku and Orunmo of Ilu-Iran respectively, it was alleged that Hon. Kunle Omolola, an indigene of Elefon Village with the firm support of Alhaji Wasiu Amusa Akinwon from Olaitan family of the Orunmo ruling house has been presented as the candidate for the vacant stool.
The letter stated further that it is not yet the turn of the family to produce Oniran of Ilu-Iran kingdom stressing that it will jeopardize the chances of the family to present their candidate at the appropriate time.
future.

The letter alleged that Hon. Omolola was using his political clout and that of his godfather, Alhaji Akinwon, to fraudulently present himself to the kingmakers, and both of them were alleged to have been going around town boasting that they had all the necessary political connections to ensure become the next Oniran of Ilu-Iran.
The letter alleged that the Awanibaku family was denied the eligibility form and sidelined in the selection process of the Obaship of Oniran of Ilu-Iran on the instruction of the council Chairman, Ayedire South LCDA.
The aggrieved ruling house members urged the state government to halt the selection process, described as warped and abuse of customs and traditions of the land.
“By the customs and Obaship and Chieftaincy law of Osun State, before a person could be selected for the post, he is recommended and by the ruling house whose turn is to present a candidate for the vacant stool.”
Meantime, the Awanibaku family, the next ruling house, has chosen Prince Kazeem Akintayo Adeosun as its candidate in a letter sent to the National President of the Royal Union of Owu People (RUOP), Alhaji Engr. Fatai Akinbade is a candidate for the vacant Oniran stool.
In the letter signed by Alfa Saliu Akinade Fabunmi, Chief Dauda Olaoye Akintayo, Pa Suara Olabiyi Akintayo, Mrs. Jaworatu Adeniran, Semiu Olaitan, Mutiu Alao Orunmo, Alhaja Salimot Olaitan and Mrs. Sariyu Abeki Akibu, the family traced the history of the community and its attachment to Awanibaku, asking the statesman to ensure that Owu heritage is protected.
It would be recalled that Oba Sawiyu Ayinla Alao, Adewolu 1, joined his ancestor on 5th May 2023.