… Says, both ERI, Country Club have Candidates
Stakeholders in Esa-Oke Community, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State have warned against engaging in any action that could derail the process for the selection of a new monarch or cause breach of peace in the town.
The stakeholders reacted to the protest recently held by supporters of a contestant to the stool of Owa Omiran against the inauguration of the Screening Committee, expressed concern on the erroneous belief and misinterpretation of the Ifa pronouncement on who should be selected as new Owa Omiran of Esa-Oke.
A member of the Esa-Oke Council of Elders (ECE) Mr. Idowu Afolami who also spoke on behalf of Esa-Oke Renewal Initiative (ERI), told www.esaoketodayonline.com there is no plan or ulterior motive to blacklist or disqualify any of the candidates.
According to him, the planned screening of the contestants was to guide the kingmakers in the selection of new Owa Omiran and not to disqualify any individual.
Mr. Afolami also spoke on the attempt to drag the socio-cultural group, Esa Oke Renewal Initiative (ERI) into the selection process debates. He cautioned those linking the group to the selection process to find a better way of blackmailing it.
Another elder who spoke at the venue queried the continuous linking of ERI, as a group the selection narrative, while conveniently leaving out another socio-cultural group, Esa Oke Country Club.
In a chat with www.esaoketodayonline.com the elder who spoke to our reporter off camera, revealed that one of the candidate is a member of Esa Oke Country Club, and that members of the club constitute the bulk of his financiers.
It would be recalled that the Regent and the Ogboni of Esa-Oke, who is also the head of the kingmakers, High Chief Paul Abimbola Olamiju recently informed the people of Esa Oke during a town hall meeting that the best candidate out of the five contenders will be selected.
The Esa-Oke leaders therefore, charged all the security agencies to ensure that peace reigns in the community, before during and after the selection of new Owa Omiran.
They also urged State Government to shun the insinuation and drinking joints rumours being spread by the supporters of a particular contestant.