High Chief Gbenga Akinyode, former Supervisor for works in Okitipupa Local Government council, and a prominent stakeholder from the extended Akinlalu Ruling House of Ode Erinje has expressed his disappointment at the turn of events as regards the appointment of a Regent for the town. Ode – Erinje is in Ondo southern senatorial district of Ondo state.
Hon. Akinyode noted that it is unfortunate that the state government appeared to have hijacked the selection and appointment process in favour of a choice of Regency, whose candidacy does not agree with the consensus opinion of the thirteen segments making up the Akinlalu ruling House, wondering why the state government should see the Regency appointment as an avenue for political compensation and patronage at the expense of the laid down tradition and procedure for the appointment of Regent for Ode-Erinje kingdom.
Akinyode who was also a contender for the Regency stool of Ode Erinje said at the expanded meeting of the Akinlalu Ruling House, he was asked to step down as eleven out of the thirteen families / segments making up the extant Ruling House built a consensus selection around the candidacy of Chief Akindele Omosule, the Otun Luda of Erinje from Tawojobi segment of the ruling House.
Tracing the laid down traditional selection process of Regency in Ode-Erinje, Chief Akinyode maintained that, ” consequent upon the demise of H.R.M Oba S.A.O Akinkalu II, the Orungberuwa of Ode Erinje on the 3rd July, 2016, tradition demands that a Regent must be put in place prior to the selection or appointment of a substantive Oba. In pursuance of the aforesaid, a call was made to the ruling House where in the Oba had died to produce someone who would be made a Regent pending the time a substantive kabiesi would emerge.
” It is the custom and tradition of Erinje that when an Oba or Oloja dies, his brother from the same lineage is enthroned as the Regent and this was the case upon the demise of Akinlalu 1, whose brother, Lisa koko succeeded as a Regent ; as well as
Oloja Akinyemohun whose brother, Ifatola Obaterun succeeded as a Regent after his demise at Ode Erinje. ”
Chief Gbenga Akinyode stressed that shortly after the death of His Royal Majesty, Oba Akinlalu II, all the family segments constituting Akinlalu ruling House met and decided to present Chief Akindele Omosule as the ruling house’ choice candidate to occupy the Regency stool of Ode Erinje kingdom, being the most presentable and most qualified among all the contestants to the Regency stool.
Brandishing the consensus candidacy document, which affirmed Chief Akindele Omosule as the choice of Regent among eleven out of the thirteen segments of Akinlalu Ruling House, Chief Akinyode said this decision was presented to the council of Chiefs at ” Ogwa” under the leadership of High Chief Lijirin, the Head of “Dosu ” for their announcement of the family’s choice and that was where the music changed.
While regretting the choice of Regent eventually announced by the state government, Akinyode maintained that according to the tradition and custom of Erinje kingdom, it was not the statutory responsibility of the state government to dabble into the appointment of a Regent for the town, rather the choice of who becomes the Regent is within the purview of the resolve of the ruling House of
the deceased Oba, which the council of Chiefs simply has the sole function of approving.
Chief Akinyode therefore appealed to the Local government committee on the Erinje Regency matter and Ondo state Government to redirect themselves by recognizing the candidate that has the consensus of the majority of segments of the Akinlalu ruling House, Chief Akindele Omosule, stressing that the people of Erinje are peace loving and will continue to support the lofty dreams of the state government.
While reacting to the announcement of Prince Adekanye Ipinsanmi Emmanuel as the Regent of Ode Erinje, Chief Akindele Omosule admitted that at the meeting of Akinlalu ruling House to select a Regent, his younger brother, Adekanye, who also indicated interest in the Regency stool, disagreed with his choice, a majority choice that had the backing of eleven out of the thirteen segments/families making up the ruling House. Omosule said another person who had earlier shown interest in the Regency, High Chief Oyegun Mathew was unequivocally disqualified by the ruling House on the strength of his sensitive position as the “Bojutoro of Erinje ” as well as the “Olori Ekun” head of the masquerades.
In his appeal to the state government, Chief Akindele Omosule stressed that it will be untold injustice if his choice of Regency which was supported by majority is discountenanced and thereby denied the mandate at the alter of political expediency. He called on the state government and well meaning people of Erinje kingdom to recognize the sacrosanct fact that the family of a deceased Oba traditionally presents the town’s Regent and not a Local government committee or the state government.
