The Osun State Executive Council on Monday approved the appointment of Prince Ademola Makinde as the new Owa of Igbajo.
This was disclosed in a statement released in Osogbo by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi.
It will be recalled that the immediate past chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Prince Gboyega Famoodun, was appointed and installed Owa of Igbajo at the twilight of the administration of Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, the predecessor of the incumbent governor of the state.
But Governor Ademola Adeleke nullified Famoodun’s appointment and those of Aree of Iree, Oba Raphael Oluponle, and Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olalekan Akadiri, immediately after he took over administration of the state in November 2022.
The monarchs were told to vacate their palaces, pending the outcome of the probe initiated into the circumstances around their emergence.
In the white paper issued after the probe panel had submitted its report, the stool of Owa of Igbajo and Aree of Iree were declared vacant, as the government called for a fresh selection process to fill the throne, while Akinrun was told not to parade self of monarch pending the determination of a suit then pending before Court of Appeal.
A statement announcing the appointment of the new Owa of Igbajo partly read, “At the Executive Meeting held at the Exco chambers, the nomination as forwarded by the Boluwaduro Local government was approved in line with due process, chieftaincy law, and tradition.
“The kingmakers had earlier approved Dr Makinde, which was in line with chieftaincy laws and tradition.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Executive Meeting congratulated the new Owa of Igbajo and tasked him to heal the wounds of the selection process by ensuring inclusive traditional governance.”