Prince Ademola emerges as the new Aree of Iree in Osun.

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

Prince Ademola Oluponle Raphel has been elected as Iree land’s 16th Aree.

On Friday, the 49-year-old oil and gas magnate was elected by Warrant Chiefs in an election overseen by officials from the Boripe North Local Government Development Authority, Iree.

Prince Ademola was elected ahead of 11 other aspirants from the Oyekun, Olubonku, and Oyegbite ruling houses who had expressed interest in contesting the Aree stool.

The new Aree of Iree land was born on November 24, 1973, and is descended from Iree’s Oyekun ruling house.

He holds a Higher National Diploma in Accounting from Osun State Polytechnic in Iree.

His appointment follows the death of Oba Jimoh Olayonu on July 8, 2018, but the vacancy has not been filled in the last four years due to litigation from various ruling houses.

However, Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court, Ikinrun, recently issued a decision that allowed the process to continue.

Bamigbegbin Isaac Oladejo, Chairman of the Boripe North LCDA, confirmed the selection, stating that Prince Ademola Oluponle Raphael had been chosen.

“Yes, Prince Ademola Oluponle Raphel has just been selected as the new Aree of Iree,” he says.

Meanwhile, the Iree Council of Elders has described Prince Ademola Oluponle Raphael’s selection as a slap on culture and tradition.

At a press conference, Adenrele Afolabi, Chairman of the Iree Council of Elders, and Oluwole Taiwo, President of the Iree Progressive Association, condemned the use of Warrant Chiefs by the Boripe Local Development Authority to fill the vacant stool of Aree of Iree land.

They urged residents and indigenous people to preserve the town’s peace and tranquillity.

“The system of jettisoning all the authentic six (in the current situation, Five as Eesa is late) Afobajes (wàrfà Mfa) to appoint a bà for Iree ran afoul of the Town’s existing culture and traditions,” they claim.

“On behalf of the well-meaning citizens of Iree, the Chairman Iree Council of Elders, Asiwaju (Engr.) Adenrele Afláb, in collaboration with the President Iree Progressive Association (IPA), Aar (Engr.) Oluwale Taiwo, hereby appeal to our people (home and in diaspora), especially the YOUTH, to please maintain the PEACE and TRANQUILITY Iree is known for The Elders are deciding how to proceed.”

The kingmakers in Iree land, led by the Aogun of Iree, Chief Saliu Atoyebi, had objected to the inclusion of the Iyalode of Iree, Chief (Mrs) Serifat Adebayo, as a member.

Her intended appointment to the council of kingmakers was to replace the recently deceased Eesa of Iree.

Chief Atoyebi had insisted that such an appointment was contrary to Iree tradition and culture.

He also stated that the council of kingmakers would not recognize such an appointment.