After a selection process of the new Aseyin of Iseyin at the king’s palace, Prince Olawale Semiu Oyebola has emerged as the preferred candidate of the kingmakers.
The ten kingmakers arrived the palace at ten in the morning after security men have cordoned off the place to forestall any break in law and order since early Tuesday morning and voting process started, as planned by the officials of the Iseyin local government and security agents.
The outcome of the votes cast showed majority votes in favor of the 53year old.
Prince Oyebola eventually emerged the 30th Aseyin after the demise of late Dr. Abdganiy Salawudeen Adekunle Oloogunebi Ajinese 1.
Oyebola works and resides in the United States of America with his family and has always shown interest in the welfare of the community, which prompted his education foundation, under which indigent students of tertiary institutions access scholarships.
His selection followed an outcry by some prominent Indigenes of Iseyin on Monday night who described the move by the kingmakers in the town to elect a new king on Tuesday as a taboo in Yoruba land, hence warned all involved to watch their moves.
A source said the second in command in the hierarchy among the kingmakers, was not happy with the development, hence decided to truncate the process by telling them to elect a new king among the applicants.
According to the source, the said second in command had collected money from a particular candidate and distributed N500,000 for other kingmakers to elect his preferred candidate.
Calling on the governor of the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde to kindly help to stop unholy process of enthroment of a new king for Iseyin, the source said Governor Makinde being a man of integrity would do well by insisting on due process for emergence of Aseyin.
Another credible source in Iseyin told our correspondent on condition of anonymous that the possible implications of the process they are about to adopt, which is voting for the next monarch, it is dangerous for the ancient town.
The source said the past monarch was also elected which was responsible for his untimely death, because dieties were angry with the process.
“How could you vote to elect a king in yorubaland, especially in a town like iseyin? Such a king may die in less than seven days. The kingmakers have been paid N500,000 but I know the implications of such action and my conscience cannot tolerate this. Governor must do something about it.”
He said the kingmakers have collected N500,000 to vote for a particular candidate among the applicants.
The source said voting for emergence of a king in Yorubaland land is abomination, unacceptable and against Yoruba tradition.
The source said; “We always depends on oracle to determine selection of our king in Iseyinland not by voting. The voting slated for Tuesday must not stand. Government must stop it now.
“We have heard many rumours on why it is taking so long to pick the new Aseyin but this is confirmation that some people are somewhere working against the interest of our town. We won’t allow this to happen.”
