Members of Ruling Houses in Ekosin, a town in Osun State, have urged the governor, Ademola Adeleke, not to present Staff of Office to the new Akosin of Ekosin, Kasali Olagunju.

Olagunju was appointed by the immediate past Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

But Adeleke, shortly after taking over government stopped all the monarchs appointed by Oyetola after he had lost the governorship election in July 2022 from parading themselves as royal fathers.

The new Akosin was however among the monarchs that were allowed to retain their positions after the government committee that probed some Oyetola’s chieftaincy appointments submitted its report.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters at the Government Secretariat, Abere, their spokesperson, Kabiru Adewale, urged Adeleke to allow the court to rule on the controversies surrounding the Akosin Chieftaincy tussle.

He said, “The three Ruling Houses from which Akosin is selected are; Oyesoji, Oyerinde and Niniola. But Kasali Olagunju is not from any of these three Houses. Therefore he is not fit to be crowned as Akosin.

“We implore the government not to allow anyone to oppress us, as it is the turn of Niniola Ruling House to present a candidate for the stool.”

But reacting to the claim by the protesters in a statement on Saturday, counsel for Ekosin kingmakers, Mr Yemi Abiona, dismissed the claims by the protesters.

He said, “The selection, election and appointment of Oba Kasali Omotayo Olagunju on 13th November 2022 was greeted with jubilation within Nyabilolu Ruling House and in Ekosin town as a whole.

“There have been celebrations by different groups in the town to celebrate the emergence of an Akosin of Ekosin and are eagerly looking forward to the inauguration and presentation of staff of office to by the Governor of the Osun State, Senator (Dr.) Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke.

“We hereby on behalf of the entire Traditional Chiefs of Ekosin urge the State Government, the good people of the State to disregard blatant lies being peddled around by this disgruntled minority in Nyanbilolu Ruling House who had since instituted two matters in respect of the same chieftaincy at the Osun State High Court, Ikirun in HIK/42/2022 and HIK/46/2022,.” he added.(The PUNCH)