The Gboleru royal family in Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun, has appealed to the state government to investigate and unravel the killer of one of their princes, Lukman Gboleru, over kingship crisis in the town.

Addressing a news conference on Saturday in Ikirun, the head of the Gboleru family, Olawale Olatunji, urged the state government to ensure justice for the royal family.

“We want the state government to secure justice for our family. The deceased is one of the Gboleru princes,” Mr Olatunji said.

He added, “He left wife and children behind, and the only thing that can bring consolation to us is for government to ensure justice for the deceased and the entire family.”

Ms Gboleru was killed on November 23 after unknown armed attackers invaded the town’s locked palace of Akirun of Ikirun.

Some suspected arsonists also razed a section of the palace during the incident.

There had been a crisis in the town since the selection, announcement and installation of Yunus Akadiri, from Obaara royal family, as the new traditional ruler.

Due to the crisis, the palace had been under lock since Oba Akadiri was installed as the Akinrun.

The Akinrun stool became vacant after the demise of Oba Raid Adedeji on February 3, 2021.

Ms Olatunji, however, said the only thing that could bring consolation to the royal family is for the state government to direct the police to investigate and unravel those behind the killing.

He said since the killing, the family had not heard anything from the police.

On the issue of the Obaship tussle in the town, Mr Olatunji commended Governor Ademola Adeleke on the reversal of Mr Akadiri as the Akinrun of Ikirun.

He said the installation of Mr Akadiri by the immediate past governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, was a slap on the faces of the Gboleru family.

Mr Adeleke had on November 28 signed an executive order suspending the enthronement of the Aree of Iree, the Akirun of Ikirun and the Owa of Igbajo.

Mr Olatunji, who described the governor’s decision as a welcome development, said it would bring sanity to electing new Akinrun for the town.

“What we want is for our rightful position to be returned back to us because when it was the turn of the Adedeji royal family, we supported them in the time of the Obaara royal family, we supported them, and now that is the turn of the Gboleru royal family, we expect them to support us.

“For the sake of justice, fairness and peaceful co-existence, the Gboleru family should be allowed to produce the next Akinrun,” he said. 

(NAN)