Osun Monarch’s U.S. Sentence Causes Rift Among Ipetumodu Kingmakers

By: Aremu Toyeebaht

Tension flared on Tuesday during a meeting of princes in Ipetumodu, Osun State, over a proposal to declare the Apetumodu stool vacant following the conviction of Oba Joseph Oloyede in the United States.

Oba Oloyede, the 27th Apetumodu, was recently sentenced to more than four years in prison for COVID-19 loan fraud. He was also ordered to forfeit assets and pay over $4.4 million in restitution. https://democracyradio.ng/us-court-jails-nigerian-monarch-over-4-2m-covid-19-loan-fraud/

The palace meeting, presided over by the Asalu of Ipetumodu, Chief Sunday Adedeji, began around 4 p.m. and initially proceeded without incident. Tensions rose, however, when a prince called on Adedeji, as the most senior surviving kingmaker, to write a formal letter to Governor Ademola Adeleke declaring the throne vacant. Adedeji reportedly refused and recused himself from any move to declare the stool vacant, sparking a heated argument among the attendees. The confrontation escalated into a shouting match, leading to the premature adjournment of the meeting around 6 p.m.

Speaking after the breakdown, a prince from the Aribile Ruling House, Olaboye Ayoola, expressed disappointment at Adedeji’s refusal. “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,” Ayoola said.

When contacted, Chief Adedeji confirmed his stance but gave no further details, saying: “It is true. Peace has to reign first.”

The breakdown leaves uncertainty over the succession process for the Apetumodu throne, with palace authorities yet to indicate the next steps.