Osun kingmakers in Ipetumodu disagreed on Tuesday over a call to dethrone the Apetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, who is serving a prison sentence in the United States for COVID-19 loan fraud.
Oba Oloyede, the 27th Apetumodu, was sentenced to more than four years in prison and ordered to forfeit assets and pay over $4.4 million in restitution.
The meeting, held inside the palace premises and presided over by the Asalu of Ipetumodu, Sunday Adedeji, began at 4 p.m.
A dispute arose when a prince demanded that Mr Adedeji, as the most senior surviving kingmaker, write a formal letter to Governor Ademola Adeleke declaring the throne vacant.
Adedeji rejected the call and refused to make a move on declaring the stool vacant.
His stance triggered a shouting match among the attendees, causing the meeting to break down around 6 p.m.
According to a prince from the Aribile Ruling House, Olaboye Ayoola, “During the meeting, we all decided that two new kingmakers should be elected to replace the deceased ones and a letter written to the governor declaring the seat vacant. But Chief Adedeji refused, insisting we won’t do that. He also announced he was no longer interested in being a kingmaker. That led to chaos, and the meeting ended without any resolution.”
When contacted after the meeting, Adedeji confirmed his rejection of the proposal.
“It is true. Peace has to reign first,” he said.
The U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of Ohio had, in an August 26 statement, confirmed Oba Oloyede’s sentencing.
The monarch and Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and related offences after falsifying applications for COVID-19 relief loans.
Osun State commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy affairs, Dosu Babatunde, said the government would take action after obtaining a Certified True Copy of the U.S. judgement.
Meanwhile, division persists among princes of Ipetumodu’s two ruling houses, Aribile, which produced Oba Oloyede and Fagbemokun.
Some in Aribile argue that the throne should remain with them until Oloyede completes his sentence, while others insist a replacement should be chosen from their house among those who earlier contested.
Princes from Fagbemokun argue that the stool should rotate to their side.
