Moves to declare the throne of the Apetumodu vacant following the conviction of Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede in the United States ended in chaos on Tuesday after a meeting of Ipetumodu princes broke down.
Oba Oloyede, the 27th Apetumodu, was recently sentenced to more than four years in prison for COVID-19 loan fraud. He was also ordered to forfeit assets and pay over $4.4 million in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
The meeting, which began around 4 p.m. at the palace and was presided over by the Asalu of Ipetumodu, Chief Sunday Adedeji, started peacefully but degenerated after some princes demanded that Adedeji, as the most senior surviving kingmaker, write formally to Governor Ademola Adeleke declaring the stool vacant.
Chief Adedeji rejected the request, announced his withdrawal from kingmaker duties, and recused himself from any decision on the throne. His refusal triggered heated arguments among the princes, forcing the meeting to end abruptly around 6 p.m. without resolution.
Prince Olaboye Ayoola of the Aribile Ruling House expressed disappointment over the stalemate. “During the meeting, we agreed to elect two new kingmakers to replace the deceased ones and write the governor declaring the seat vacant. But Chief Adedeji refused, insisting we won’t do that. He also said he was no longer interested in being a kingmaker. That led to chaos, and the meeting collapsed,” he said.
Chief Adedeji later confirmed his decision, saying only, “It is true. Peace has to reign first,” before declining further comment.
The monarch’s conviction has thrown Ipetumodu into uncertainty, with growing calls for the Osun State Government to decide the future of the stool. The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde, said the government would first obtain a Certified True Copy of the U.S. judgment before taking action.
Meanwhile, divisions have deepened between the town’s two ruling houses — Aribile, which produced Oba Oloyede, and Fagbemokun. While some members of Aribile argue the throne should remain with them until Oloyede completes his sentence, others want a fresh monarch chosen from their lineage. Fagbemokun princes, however, insist it is their turn to produce the next Apetumodu.