Indigenes of Ipetumodu, Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State are worried by the prolonged absence of their monarch from the country.

They fear that his absence since 2024 could mar the coronation of the new Alaafin of Oyo.

Tradition demands that a new Alaafin must receive a sword of authority from the reigning Ipetumodu monarch before he can ascend the throne.

But the monarch of the ancient town, Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, is said to have been away from the community since January last year with no one certain about his whereabouts.

The situation has given rise to anxiety in both Oyo and Ipetumodu with calls on the authorities to investigate Oba Oloyede?s whereabouts.

Where is our king? Why has he not returned from his overseas trip? These are the questions on the lips of the indigenes of Ipetumodu.

Oba Oloyede, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Ife North Local Government Area, Osun State and Associate Professor in a US university was said to have left the shores of Nigeria for the United States of America (USA) in January 2024 but has not returned home since then; a situation the people perceive as strange and worrisome, particularly because of his important role in the installation of the new Alaafin of Oyo and a traditional festival that requires his presence to perform some special rites.

Ipetumodu residents who spoke said they were disenchanted with the prolonged absence of their Oba and the unpalatable stories surrounding his whereabouts because of their socio-cultural implications for the town.

The residents urged the state government to investigate the whereabouts of Oba Oloyede with a view to compelling him to return home and carry out his traditional duties.

An indigene, Akanni Adewale, said the people of the town find it difficult to believe the stories making the rounds about an individual who bears the same name as the monarch and is said to be facing charges for complicity in a multimillion dollar fraud in the US.

He said the continued absence of Oba Oloyede has left the people of the community in a quandary as to what to believe as reasons for his absence.

He added that the installation rites of the new Alaafin of Oyo cannot be complete without the participation of Apetumodu, who, as tradition demands, is mandated to hand over a sword of authority to the new Alaafin.

Recalling the history behind the sword a new Alaafin must receive from the Oba of Ipetumodu. Akanni said: ?History has it that Ipetumodu is the place of purification rites for a new Alaafin.

?It is mandatory that at the end of the purification rites, the new Alaafin will wait at Ipetumodu to receive a sword of authority normally sent from Ile Ife, marking the end of his coronation rites.

??It was said that this tradition had been in practice since the days of Oranmiyan, the founder of Oyo and younger sibling of Ipetumodu?s progenitor.

??We believe that he is not the one facing the law in US for complicity in a multi-million fraud as reported in some news media.

?It might just be a coincidence that one of the accused persons in the case shares the same name as our monarch.

?However, the continuous absence of our monarch is quite disturbing, because since Oba Oloyede left Nigeria on January 14, 2024, he has not returned, and we know that unlike this time around, he doesn?t stay long outside the country.

?Mind you, no new Alaafin can be enthroned without receiving an ancient sword of authority from our monarch, the Apetumodu, who is the only Yoruba monarch traditionally mandated to pray for the new Alaafin of Oyo. Hence, Oba Oloyede?s absence could mar the completion of the succession rites for the new Alaafin of Oyo.

?We want the Osun State Government to find out his whereabouts and compel him to return home immediately in view of the consequences of his prolonged absence from the throne.

?We do not want his stay outside the country to rob Ipetumodu of its age-long relevance in the socio-cultural events in Yorubaland.??

A community leader who pleaded anonymity explained that Oba Oloyede could not participate in the local festivals held recently in the town.

?Oba Oloyede plays pivotal role in the traditional festivals like Edi. The festival is usually held in October, and as tradition requires, our monarch must wear an ancient crown and supplicate to the gods on behalf of the people.

?No matter how important his overseas trip, he must return home to participate in the festival. Same with the Egungun festival held in July and Ipetu Day held in November 2024 where the monarch?s absence marred the festivals, albeit some persons claimed they had conversations with the monarch on the telephone.?

He added: ?Now, our greatest fear is that his absence could affect the final rites of installation of the new Alaafin of Oyo since tradition requires that any new Alaafin must collect a sword of authority and prayers from the Apetumodu before his rites of installation can be complete.

?This traditional exercise is an obligation captured in our panegyrics as ?omo a gbeda fun Alaafin (the one who is required to give Alaafin of Oyo a traditional sword of authority).

?The ancient palace in the town was recently pulled down at the instance of the monarch. Traditional chiefs in the cabinet of the monarch now hold meetings in a small meeting space.

?I want to urge the state government to as a matter of urgency set up a panel to investigate the whereabouts of our monarch and demand his immediate return to Nigeria to face his responsibilities as a traditional ruler.

?His return will not only douse tension but also ensure that he participates in the coronation of the new Alaafin of Oyo when he completes his seclusion rites anytime from now.

?There are two ruling houses in Ipetumodu: Fagbemokun and Aribile where Oba Oloyede belongs.?

In his remarks, a community leader, Prince Ayoola, said indigenes of the town are praying for the return of Oba Oloyede.

He said: ?It is true that Oba Oloyede has not returned from his trip to the US. But he speaks regularly with some people. I have also heard about the viral story in social media which suggested that someone with similar name is being held by the US authorities over allegations bordering on a case of fraud.

?Members of Aribile ruling house have been praying for the safe return of our monarch.

?Both Muslim and Christian members are fervently praying that his return before too long would shame our detractors, especially those who contested against him for the throne.

?I believed this is the right time for Oba Oloyede?s return to his throne as Apetumodu, since he is the one required by the Yoruba tradition to hand over the sword of authority to the new Alaafin of Oyo during his installation.

?In fact, according to panegyrics, Apetumodu is described as ??m? a ji gbeda fun Alaafin (one who hands over the sword to the Alaafin)?.

?Hence, we are praying fervently for his safe return before the completion of Alaafin?s coronation rites. (The Nation)

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