In a statement addressing a recent petition submitted to Ondo State Governor Dr. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, an individual said to be the cousin of Prince Kayode Aroloye, one of the aspirants for vacant Owa of Idanre Obaship stool and acting in representative capacity for the larger Aroloye Ruling House, Fadekemi Aroloye, has asserted his eligibility to contest for the vacant stool of Owa of Idanre. This comes in response to claims made by a faction of the Aroloye family alleging that he is not fit for the role.
“We would have ignored the said petition because we know that the officials of the government of Ondo State are well grounded and highly knowledgeable and cannot be deceived by a selfish fraction of the Owa Royal Family, but because the petition was circulated on social media, hence the reply,” Aroloye stated.
Prince Kayode was among 21 candidates who applied when the royal family called for submissions from interested members. After a vetting process conducted by a committee set up by the family, he was shortlisted as one of the seven names sent to the kingmakers. Ultimately, he was one of the five candidates cleared by the kingmakers for the election.
“This is possible because Prince Kayode Aroloye is a great-grandson of Oba Aladegbule Aroloye, the 25th Owa of Idanre,” he emphasized.
According to Fadekemi Aroloye, both the registered declaration and the Morgan Commission report, which were utilized by the family and kingmakers, affirm his qualifications. He criticized the petitioners, claiming that the ascension of the immediate past Owa, who was reportedly imposed by the government after multiple unsuccessful attempts by a junior brother, was controversial.
“The immediate past Owa, who is the father of this line of the royal family, was imposed on the people by the instrumentality of the western state government after losing more than four times to his junior brother after the vote by the kingmakers; no wonder their fears,” he remarked.
Aroloye also called for decorum among the children of the immediate past Owa, asserting that their father’s rise to the throne was fraught with issues. “The ascension of their father to the throne was full of complications; we hope they would not allow us to spill more,” he warned.
This statement serves as a firm declaration of Prince Kayode Aroloye’s intent to contest for the Owa of Idanre, setting the stage for potential conflict within the royal family as the community prepares for the succession process.
