From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Controversies have continued to trail the appointment of Owa Obokun of Ijesa land, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, as another family condemned the process that led to the emergence of the monarch.
Some royal families, including the Ofokutu Ruling House, had kicked against the presentation of the staff of office to the new monarch by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.
Noting that Oba Haastrup was selected by the kingmakers on Friday and confirmed on the same day by the governor, while the staff of office was presented to him on Sunday, the Fajesinmi Royal Family of Bilaro Olu-Odo Ruling House berated the hasty process that produced Oba Haastrup, noting that the ascension of a king is not merely a political process but a sacred and spiritual journey that confers legitimacy and authority on the new monarch.
In a statement by one of its heads, Prince Olufemi Fajemisin, on Wednesday, the royal family lamented the hasty selection and presentation of the staff of office to the new monarch.
“By bypassing this time-honoured practice, the cultural essence of Yoruba kingship is eroded, and its sacred foundation is undermined.
“This rushed timeline—less than 72 hours of selection, approval, and presentation of the staff of office—raised significant concerns and sparked widespread disapproval.
“Traditionally, the process of installing a king in Yorubaland is meticulous, involving spiritual rites, consultation with the Ifa oracle, and a purification process known as ‘Ipebi’ (Seclusion).”
“This process prepares the king-elect for the enormous responsibilities of leadership, both physical and spiritual, and aligns him with the ancestral and divine order of kingship. It is the foundation of the king’s authority and legitimacy. It symbolizes his initiation into the mysteries of kingship and the spiritual responsibilities that come with the throne,” the family said.
The family contended that skipping the sacred process undermines the sanctity of the Owa Obokun stool and reduces it to a mere administrative appointment.
“Such an act disregards the customs and traditions that have sustained the Yoruba people for centuries and diminishes the spiritual significance of the king’s role as a custodian of culture and intermediary between the people and the divine,” the family added.
Prince Fajemisin, thereby, called on the Osun State Government and all stakeholders to take urgent steps to correct the anomaly.