Kingmakers in Ikirun, Ifelodun local government area of Osun, are enmeshed in manipulation scandal over the Akirun stool.

They were accused of manipulating the selection process of the town’s new traditional ruler.

But the kingmakers denied the allegation.

They said the selection of Olalekan Akadiri, as the new Akirun of Ikirun town, followed due process and was widely accepted by the town.

The former traditional ruler of the town, Oba AbdulRauf Olawale Adedeji, who ascended the royal stool in 1991, died in February.

Addressing a press conference on behalf of other kingmakers, Moruf Onifade, the Elemon of Ikirunland, described the allegation that the selection process by the kingmakers was manipulated as baseless.

Mr Onifade said the 21 contestants from the Obaara ruling house agreed that the seven Kingmakers should vote to choose one person to be the king among them.

“We invited all the 21 contestants for the stool to the local government secretariat, and they all agreed that the eight kingmakers should vote to choose who to be the king. After the voting process, Lekan Akadiri scored six votes, while another contestant scored one vote, making seven,” Mr Onifade explained. “But I was an observer during the process, and I could not vote. Any allegation that the process was manipulated is baseless and untrue because laid down rules for selection process was followed.”

He said an allegation that Governor Gboyega Oyetola manipulated the kingmakers to select the king-elect was not true.

Another chief in the town, Rasheed Diekola, the Odofin of Ikirun town, said the allegation that the kingmakers collected money to influence the process was not true.

Mr Diekola said the kingmakers followed their heart and what was best for the town in choosing the king-elect.

Meanwhile, youths of Ikirun town under the aegis of Concerned Ikirun Youths said the selection process of the king-elect was faulty.

Addressing a press conference, the youths stated, “We feel that the purported selection process of the new Akirun, which according to the Eesa, Chief Lawal Kareem, is faulty. This is because the Eesa, who doubles as the head of kingmakers, was unable to reach his colleagues 72 hours prior to the purported selection process. At this age, Ikirun is too blessed to be led by an uneducated person.”

(NAN)