The Nyanbilolu Ruling House of Ekosin, Odo-Otin local government of Osun State has disowned the appointed Akosin, Prince Kasali Olagunju.
The ruling house stated that Olagunju is not one of them as allegedly falsely claimed by some four kingmakers of the town.
According to Pa. Abraham Bowofola, the head of the Nyanbilolu Ruling House, the appointed monarch is not a prince in Ekosin and does not have any right to the Akosin throne.
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Bowofola, in a press statement made available to newsmen yesterday, urged the state government, to disregard a statement credited to the four kingmakers who attempted to validate Olagunju’s appointment.
According to Bowofola, the selection, election and appointment of Olagunju on November 13, 2022 was fraudulently procured and greeted with consternation, hatred and manifest surprise.
He also noted that the counsel reported to have affirmed the legality of the selection of the traditional ruler, Yemi Abiona, was wrong as the case is still in court.
The family head who had earlier led a protest on February 2 to the State Secretariat, Abere, demanded that the state government do the right thing with regards to resolving the kingship dispute in the town.
Bowofola said, “Our attention has been drawn to the publication contained in the Vanguard News of February 4, 2024, and circulated online in vanguard.com.
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“In the publication, the kingmaker in Ekosin disclosed that the newly appointed monarch, Oba Kasali Olagunju, is not just a prince of the town but also duly elected by them, contrary to the claim of some members of Nyanbilolu Ruling House. The four of the six Kingmakers in the saga, namely: the Ojomu, Chief Michael Adepoju; Ekerin, Azeez Kolawole, Ekefa, Muritala Adeleke and Olukotun, Ayoku Najeemdeen was reported to have made the statement.
“The Chiefs commit as we are aware of the ethical conduct among the error of fallacies when it was stated that the claims that the monarch is not a member of the Nyanbilolu Ruling House is far from the truth, as the chiefs failed woefully to mention the compound to which their manipulated king belong.
“On our part, Kasali Omotayo Olagunju belongs to Adio family of Adio’s Compound, Ekosin, and no more. Adio’s family is not a family unit of the Nyanbilolu Ruling House and Mr. Kasali Omotayo Olagunju is therefore not a prince.
“The latter aspect of the reportage in the Vanguard News credited to one Yemi Abiona, a counsel to the monarch, referring to “Olagunju Kasali Omotayo (3rd Defendant)” purporting to justify the imposition illegally made by the chiefs named above is in the least uncalled for.
“First, by implication, the said Yemi Abiona of counsel is standing in for a case already pending before a court of competent jurisdiction. It is unethical for a counsel to comment publicly on a case that is subjudiced before the court. “One may ask, what case will Yemi Abiona of counsel further present before the court?
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“Much as we are not lawyers, all we need to say as bonafide members of Nyanbilolu Ruling House of Ekosin and in answer to the false claim of Mr. Yemi Abiona is that the purported selection, election, and appointment of Kasali Omotayo Olagunju on 13th November 2022 was fraudulently procured and was greeted with consternation, hatred and manifest surprised as the unholy turn of event by the Chiefs to heap undeserved favour on a stranger to the household of Nyanbilolu Ruling House and the entire Ekosin town.
“The false claims by both the four Chiefs named above and Mr Kasali Olagunju, through his counsel, Yemi Abiona stand reason on its head. And the good government of Osun, including the reasonable members of the society are hereby urged to ignore.”