By Nwosu Colins
The royal families of Ilemona in Oyun local government, Kwara State, are protesting the selection of President Bola Tinubu’s aide-de-camp, Lt. Col. Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, as the new monarch of Ilemona. Yusuf is the son of the late Oba Yusuf Omokanye Oyekanmi, the Elemona of Ilemona, who passed away in May at the age of 95. The royal families are opposed to Yusuf’s appointment as the new king, sparking a potential succession crisis in the kingdom.
According to The Guardian Newspaper, some members of the royal families of Ilemona are protesting the appointment of President Tinubu’s aide, Lt. Col. Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, as the new king of Ilemona. They claim they were excluded from the selection process and insist that they are also entitled to the vacant throne. Prince Adewale of the Shittu ruling house stated that the appointment is an exploitation of his family’s right to become the next king. He explained that there are two ruling lineages in Ilemona, the Arolu and Ogobi families, and that the selection process was compromised, violating the traditional norms.
The royal families urged the government to investigate the matter to avoid injustice, emphasizing that it’s not Yusuf’s turn to become king, as his late father was the immediate past monarch. The royal families are calling on President Tinubu and Governor Abdulrazaq to intervene and ensure a fair selection process.