VACANT ALAKENNE STOOL: IKENNE COMMUNITY SET TO BREAK 33 YEAR OLD JINX

There appears to be an end in sight to the protracted disputes surrounding the stool of the Alakenne of Ikenne, about 33 years after the passage of the last Alakenne of Ikenne Remo, Oba Gilbert Akindoyin Awomuti in 1986. The Obara royal family, the next ruling house to present candidate to fill the stool has been embroiled in disputes over the right candidate for the throne ever since. 

There are strong indications that the Obara royal family

is set to break the over 33 years old jinx surrounding the vacant stool of Alakenne of Ikenne Remo Land. This is coming about six years after the disputed 'coronation' of Prince Adeyinka Onakade as Alakenne of Ikenne, without going through the necessary traditional and statutory coronation requirements.

Since his disputed coronation,  neither the self-acclaimed Alakenne nor the Ikenne community has ever known peace, with series of controversy and endless family disputes trailing his emergence and recognition by the then Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration. Consequently, the Ikenne people had looked forward to an end to the disputes surrounding the Alakenne throne.

A recent official statement from the Senator Amosun led Ogun State government, declaring the Alakenne stool vacant, after 'through investigations' was the last straw that broke the camel's back, thereby putting paid to the continued recognition of Prince Adeyinka Onakade as Alakenne of Ikenne Remo.

Rising from its family  meeting on 16th December, 'The Obara descendants royal family, the next ruling house to produce the Alakenne has sent notice to interested family members, interested in filling the vacant stool to do so by submitting their letters of consent to the family on or before 31st of December 2017. The body also made it clear that there will be no extension of the submission date.

To demonstrate its readiness to finally put an end to the protracted tussle surrounding the Alakenne stool and treat the selection process with dispatch, the family also announced that the screening exercise would begin on the first week of January 2018. The family head, Jagun Ogunsola Sodunke implored any interested aspirants to submit his letter before the closing date.

Though no specific date has been picked for the screening exercise, Pa Sodunke further stated that the screening will be held at the Ile-ebi Mese with state and local government representatives in attendance. Others accredited to witness the exercise includes, members of Osugbo Ikenne, security agents as well as Ikenne sons and daughters.

This is a positive omen for the entire Remo Land as the process for the filling of the Alakenne stool which has been protracted is coming few weeks after the coronation of the new Akarigbo of Remo Land, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi. This is an indication that, many other vacant stools across Remo Land would soon be filled.

It is hoped that the Obara family will do a thorough job in screening candidates for the throne, so that the kingmakers can build on it to select the most qualified and acceptable candidates among the Princes to fill the vacant throne.

Remo Times will keep you posted on further developments on the on-going screening and selection exercise.