One of the leading contenders for the highly exalted stool Olujare of Ijare kingdom, Prince Kola Oyewole has rejected the exclusion of his name in the list of the candidates contesting for the stool of their fathers.
Prince Oyewole from the popular Okobiti laya (Olukere Banch ) has made known his intention to challenge the removal of his name from among his co-contenders while speaking with the Democrat News Magazine in Akure recently.
Prince Kola Oyewole who is a lover of peace and development, said he has been favoured by God to be next Oba of the ancient Ijare kingdom saying that all spiritual consultations from Ifa priests at different occasions were to his favour.
In his words: “The process of Obaship in Ijare kingdom started from after the completion of all the traditional rites of late Oba Adebamigbe Oluagbemigun, the Okokotiri 2, who died on 20th of August 2021.
“Letter was sent to government to notify the appropriate authority for the appointment of the new Olujare. Government replied in July and that within two weeks names should be sent to the kingmakers. The committee met at Oke-Afin and announced that interested candidates should come for application form at a certain amount and it was 13 of us that applied.
“In November 2022, all of us were interviewed under the leadership of Head of Royal Family (Aarinmo), Chief Oluwole Oni and they asked us 14 different questions and they have the record of the performances of all of us, and they said categorically that they would not remove any of their names except those who are not from Royal Family among them.
“When Ifa Oracle was consulted I had ‘Eji Ogbe’ most favourable one of all and they alleged that I had negotiated with them before the time.
“For close to 800 years of Ijare existence, Omo Owa has never consulted Ifa Oracle over the choice of new Oba, it has always been the duties of Ijare kingmakers. The Omo Owas went ahead to consult Ifa priests separately, but it is surprising that I was the only that had Eji Ogbe’ like the previous one. They disagreed with the outcome of the consultations.
“We have been having series of meetings and I joined them on zoom because I’ am shuttling between London and Nigeria. But in the last meeting at the Youth Centre called by Egbe Omo Elewe Obi they said 13 names are too many. It was Afobaje that has the right to say that the names submitted are too many for their considerations not any other group.
“We heard that Engr. Alex Akinyemi Oladimeji, Chairman of Ifedore Local Government had meeting with Omo Owas and Afobaje and they agreed at the meeting that three people will be signatories to the letter they wanted to present to Ondo State Government, the three people include Aarinmo (Head of Omo Owa), Giriwa and Secretary of Omo Ile and meetings were going on.
“Much later, we heard that they have told Aarinmo (Head of Royal Family to stay away from the meeting, which is not supposed to be. But some people from Adamoyoyo Branch were the brain behind that. In Ijare we have three recognized branches from the only Segeokun Ruling House, viz: Olukere Banch, Okiloigbo and Adamoyoyo Branches.
“From Olukere Banch, Prince Kola Oyewole is presented as only candidate, from Okiloigbo Branch they presented 4 candidates and from Adamoyoyo Ruling House 8 candidates were nominated.
“Now, they write 3 names from Adamoyoyo Branch and One from Okiloigbo Branch while they said nobody should be considered from Olukere Branch and we have to kick against that. It is unlawful exclusion. The only thing that can disqualify anyone is if he is not a prince from Segeokun Ruling House.
Speaking on his contributions towards the advancement of Ijare both at home and abroad, Prince Kola Oyewole said he and two other Ijare sons established Omo Elewe Obi in United Kingdom to forster development of Ijare community in December 1996.
Culturally, Prince Kola Oyewole has always come home to celebrate with his people during Oluha and Olofin festivals as a lover and promoter of cultural heritage of Ijare community and a host of other contributions.
In the same way, he noted that many are his developmental agenda for the community in the nearest future calling all and sundry to support him for that purpose.
In the same way, Prince Oyewole advised all Ijare sons and daughters to continue to pray and work for the peace of their fathers land adding that nothing must spoil their progress and development in the town.
He also used the medium to appeal to his numerous supporters at home and abroad keep praying for the will of God to be done over the matter as it cleared the he Kola Oyewole will ascend the throne of his fathers by the grace of God.
Prince Kola Oyewole was born some decades ago to the Royal Family in Ijare kingdom, he had his primary and secondary schools education and tertiary in Nigeria before he traveled abroad.
He has conglomerate of businesses within and outside Nigeria , he is a lover of his people who has been doing exploit for the community and his people from his younger days.