Osogbo High Court deposes Orangun of Ila

By Soji Adeniyi
An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has declared the appointment of Oba Wahab Oyedotun Bibire as the Orangun of Ila-Orangun as null and void.

The court presided over by Justice R. A. Siyanbola yesterday declared that the appointment of Oba Bibire by the Ila-Orangun kingmakers was not in conformity with the directive of the Osun State Government and the 1979 Chieftaincy Declaration governing the appointment of Orangun of Ila-Orangun.

In his judgement, Justice Sioyanbola ordered the Osun State Government, the state governor, the atorney-general of the state and the commissioner for local government and cheiftaincy affairs to restrainvthe kingmakers from recognizing Bibire as the Orangun of Ila-Orangun.

The judge, who based his judgment on the non-conformity of the appointment of Bibire with the 1979 Chieftaincy Declaration governing the appointment of Orangun, also avered that the kingmakers erred by not following the directive of Ifa Oracle which is a condition precedent in the appointment of Orangun.

Quoting section 135 of the evidence act, the judge ruled that consultation of Ifa Oracle is a prerequisite for the selection and appointment of the Orangun of Ila.

In his one and half hours judgment, the judge avered that Bibire was not picked by Ifa Oracle, saying this is contrary to the norms and practice in the ancient town.

Citing relevant authorities to back his judgment, the judge affirmed that Ifa Oracle was consulted in 1967 to choose the late Orangun of Ila-Orangun, Oba Williams Adetona Ayeni and even his predecessors. He expressed displeasure that the kingmakers could disregard it in 2003 when the new Orangun was to be chosen.

Bibire, who succeeded Oba Williams Adetona Ayeni, the late Orangun of Ila was appointed from Aturu Ruling House as the Orangun of Ila on May 22, 2003 by the then Governor, Chief Adebisi Akande who also hails from the Ila-Orangun.

Prince Adekunle Ogunmuyiwa also from Arutu Ruling House on September 27, 2004 filed a suit challenging the appointment of Oba Oyedotun as the Orangun of Ila.

In the suit filed by his counsel, Chief Soji Oyetayo, Prince Ogunmuyiwa said that the appointment of Oba Oyedotun did not conform with the custom and tradition of the town which stipulated consultation of Ifa Oracle as a condition for the selection of Orangun of Ila.

Prince Ogunmuyiwa contended that he was the one mostly favoured by the Ifa Oracle out of the 13 names presented by the Arutu Family to the Ila Orangun kingmakers.

He prayed the court to make a declaration that he was duly selected as the Orangun of Ila having been mostly favoured by Ifa Oracle out of the candidates.