Moses Ofodeme
The Council of Traditional Chiefs in Ipetumodu, Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, as well as Ipetumodu Progressive Union (IPU), and the entire Sons and Daughters of the ancient town have said the community is peaceful and calm.
They have also expressed concerns and embarrassment over recent sponsored publications in both the conventional and social media outfits, saying the hatchet job was done by some few known disgruntled individuals from the town. Their objective is obviously to ridicule and denigrate the personality of His Royal Highness, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba ( Prof.) Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, Latimogun 1.
“We initially thought of dismissing their publications as the rantings of black legs, but further wise counsel dictated that the public be informed of the truth to avoid repeated lies masquerading as truth.
“It is not only in Ipetumodu that bitter contests usually follow the succession processes after the death of a reigning Oba. But, in most progressive environments, after the selection, approval and coronation of one of the Princes as the succeeding Oba, swords would be sheathed and all other contestants, including their die-hard supporters, will rally round the chosen Oba in the task of socio-economic and infrastructural development of the town.
It is disheartening that while all other co-contestants for the stool of Apetimodu had since moved on with their individual lives and have been supporting Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede in the task of the obvious development being currently witnessed in Ipetumodu, about two or three co-contestants had remained implacable and had refused to forgive the Kabiyesi for the “sins of being chosen by merit” by the Kingmakers.
Over four years after his coronation, and despite his conscious efforts at initiating and sustaining genuine reconciliation with them, the co-contestants, like the proverbial punch-drunk boxer, started throwing aimless blows towards the direction of the revered Kabiyesi.
In their desperation, they have become mindless to the fact that in an attempt to disparage or ridicule a particular individual, it is unwise to drag along the revered institution that individual is presently occupying and the whole Community which had willingly chosen him as their King.
It is on this basis that we have decided to serially address the falsity of their claims in the publications but concentrating only as they affect Ipetumodu as a Community.” they said.