Prince Adelowo Adimula, one of those contesting the kingship stool in Ota, Odo-owa, Kwara State has called for the dethronement of Oba Joshua Adeyemi Adimula, the Oloota of Odo-owa. Oba Adimula had emerged the king-elect after the demise of Oba Adeyemi Emmanuel Morontade in 2014.
In a letter addressed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Prince Adimula called for the dethronement of Oba Joshua Adimula as the Oloota of Odo-Owa. He accused the traditional ruler of insatiable desire for land grabbing, which has made development in the community difficult.
The letter also stated that the king’s reign had been characterised by riots and violence resulting in loss of lives within the community.
Prince Adimula also claimed that majority of the titled chiefs in the community no longer regarded the Oba as the ruler and those who dared to speak out against his misrule were publicly flogged and paraded half-naked or had their valuable properties destroyed.
Oba Adimula was accused of flogging a high chief, Jimoh Peter Omotosho, the Asalu of Odo-Owa, who dared to challenge him about his attitude. He sent hoodlums after him and ensured the chief was dealt with.
The traditional ruler was charged with cornering and diverting the monthly stipends from Oke-Ero Traditional Council, which was meant for his high chiefs, to his pocket.
The Oba was also said to have accused the Iwarefa (kingmakers) and Alafin Defendants Union, ADU of being behind the kidnapping of some residents of the community.
Responding to the allegations, the traditional ruler stated that Prince Adimula was just trying to lay claims to the throne, which he had earlier rejected. According to him, upon the demise of his predecessor, the Odo-Owa community shortlisted and arrived at three names who were nominated for appointment to the vacant stool: Prince Adelowo Adimula, Prince Joshua Adeyemi Adimula and Prince (Prof.) Abiodun Adimula.
Prince Adimula, being the first on the list, was contacted to be appointed as the Oloota of Odo-Owa, but he declined the nomination based on spiritual considerations that he had a revelation that it was not the will of God for him to be appointed as the Oloota of Odo-Owa. He informed the community that they were at liberty to choose any other suitable candidate either from the list presented or from any other source. And he pledged his support and loyalty to whoever was eventually picked for the stool.
Being the second on the list, Oba Adimula was appointed as the Oloota of Odo-Owa. He offered a hand of friendship to Prince Adimula and made efforts to see him, but the prince deliberately made himself unavailable and incommunicado.
The traditional ruler accused the Prince of sponsoring a series of attacks, character assassination and sponsored series of press conferences, newspaper publications and adverts, aimed at downgrading, denigrating and pulling him down.
The royal father denied cornering and diverting the monthly stipends from Oke-Ero Traditional Council to his pocket, adding that he was satisfied and content with the little he was earning monthly. He revealed that he engaged in active farming to support, supplement and enhance his income to be able to meet the needs and obligations of his family.
On the allegation of having a great appetite for land-grabbing, the king labeled the accusation as very spurious, ridiculous and unfounded. He denied being a land-grabber. He revealed that the land which he built his personal house on in Odo-Owa was bought several years before he was enthroned as the Oloota of Odo-Owa,. He added that he has never taken anybody’s land.
He made it known that his reign had been peaceful, eventful and development-driven, despite the strenuous but futile efforts of his petitioners. The traditional ruler added that his town has witnessed rapid infrastructural, socio economic, cultural and political development in his seven years of reign which is unparalleled in the annals of its history.
The royal father also denied flogging Chief Omotosho, the Asalu of Odo-Owa. He called the allegation part of a deliberate campaign of calumny sponsored against him recklessly by the petitioner.
