Head of Omiwole family of Adesola ruling house calls on Oyo State Governor Makinde to ensure transparent election of new Obalufon of Sepeteri
The recent viral video circulating on social media, where one Prince Abdulfatai Oyebanji Oyediran was said to have been elected as the new Obalufon of Sepeteri from a fraudulent election has been described as a joke.
The purported election was said to have taken place on Tuesday 18th March, 2025, within the Saki-East Local Government Secretariat, which was cordinated by one of the council member of staff.
Five contestants from Adesola ruling house in Sepeteri aspiring for the vacant royal stool of the ancient town, namely Prince Omiwole Oyeleke Moruff, Prince Afolabi Oyetunde Abel, Prince Omiwole Sola Najeem, Prince Olakunle Olawoyin Olaleye and Prince Abdulfatai Oyebanji Oyediran.
Speaking on behalf of Omiwole family, Prince Omiwole Mojeed, declared the election as a sham, contending that the process of the supposed election was marred with fraud and impersonation, where none of the contestants to the vacant stool informed either verbally or in writing.
Mojeed stated that from the facts available to them, letters from Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Abese of Sepeteri, Chief Rasheed Olagbenro, who was among the confirmed Warrant chiefs was prevented from participating in the said election, with another person, Baale Iyakun, Chief Mudashiru Oyekan,, impersonating Abese, while another stranger, Ojedapo Adegbaye from Saki, who has since confessed of his wrong involvement in the charade, were imported to Sepeteri by a contestant to the royal stool, who was later declared as the winner of "an election" that was never held.
"...none of the other four contestants, apart from Abdulfatai Oyediran was intimated of the fraudulent election, and you can imagine that Abese of Sepeteri was impersonated by Baale Iyaakun of Sepeteri and strangely, another person who is never known in Sepeteri, was also imported from Saki to act as one of the Warrant Chiefs by Pince Abdulfatai Oyediran, who has since confessed of his wrong involvement in the election...," Omiwole stated
The spoke person of Omiwole family, while chatting with newsmen, appealed to Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde to disregard the purported election. He said he was speaking on behalf of Omiwole of the Adesola ruling family whose turn is to produce the next paramount ruler of Sepeteri, advising the governor to ensure a transparent election is conducted to determine the new Obalufon of Sepeteri acceptable to all the indigenes of the ancient town.
Prince Omiwole Mojeed, further stated that they trusted Governor would ensure proper things are done in the selection of Obalufon of Sepeteri, as according to him, the governor has always demonstrated this in the emergence of monarchs in other kingdoms in the state, including the the most recent Alaafin of Oyo, HRM Oba Akeem Owoade; Okere of Saki, HRM Oba Khalid Olabisi; Onigboho of Igboho,HRM Oba John Bolarinwa, HRM Oba Joel Olalere,Aseyin of Iseyin among others.
He enjoined Governor Makinde to set machinery in motion to investigate the supposed election of the new Obalufon of Sepeteri that was purposely held last month, so emergence of new monarch will bring about peace and tranquility after long absence, waiting for the emergence of a new king in the ancient town.
