Controversies surrounding the purported selection process of one Adegboye Taiwo as the new Alawo of Awo by the Osun State Government through the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Rasaq Adeosun; and Chairman of Egbedore Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Olayiwola Abiola Lamby, took a new twist last week as kingmakers of the town declared that they were not aware of any purported selection process by the state government.

The Jagun of Awoland, Chief Saka Adesola, revealed this through his written statement on Oath in a Suit No: HOS/84/2020 dated September 2, 2020, where he noted that one of the contestants and current leader of the Legislative arm of the Council area, Mr. Adegboye Taiwo Rasaq, was a stranger to Alawo stool.

According to his investigation, he said, the sum of three N3 million was demanded from Taiwo for purported and kangaroo selection process – which he said was paid.

Chief Adesola further stressed, through his 20-paragraph Statement of Oath, that to avert the crisis and retrogression in the town, a stranger should not be allowed to the stool of Alawo of Awo, adding that Prince Lawal Oloyede Oyekunle is the Mogaji of Abioye ruling house but investigation revealed otherwise.

The Statement of Oath reads thus: “That I am the Jagun of Awoland and one of the traditional kingmakers of Awo Community. In Awo, we have four ruling houses namely (1) Awojobi (2) Akinsilo (3) Abioye (4) Okunji and by tradition, it is the turn of Abioye to produce the new Alawo.

“That whenever there is vacancy over the stool of Alawo, it is our duties as kingmakers as specified by the relevant Declaration on Alawo Chieftaincy to screen and present the candidate which has the potency to bring peace and progress to Awo for installation as Alawo by affixing the traditional Akoko leaf before the presentation of instrument of office to him. And our roles cannot be wished away or jettisoned in the selection of the new monarch.

“That as kingmakers, we have the prerogative to reject any person as candidate even when he is the only one presented by his family and ask the family to do another meeting to produce another candidate or candidates. But in the present situation in Awo, neither the Egbedore Local Government Council nor the family next was informed of the selection made by the Local Government.

“That neither I nor any member of the kingmakers were involved in the selection and no Warrant kingmakers were appointed to join the two of us who are living kingmakers to do any selection,” Jagun of Awoland submitted.

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