An Ijesa chief, Lateef Akande Bakare has stated that the recent incarceration of Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede as a sad development.
Bakare, the Ajirowa of Ijesa land also stated that to avoid crisis between traditional rulers in Yoruba land, kingmakers and the society should conduct diligent and consult necessary bodies to ascertain their qualification form the throne.
He advocated going back to the basics to solve the problem.
He made this known while fielding questions from journalist during the 48th edition of THE FRONTLINERS of the Osun State Chapter of the League of Veteran Journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday.
DAILY POST recalled that Oba Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu who holds dual U.S. and Nigerian citizenship and resides in Medina, Ohio, was on August 26 handed 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio in a statement on Tuesday, disclosed that the monarch, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution.
He said, “On Alaafin and Ooni clash, Apetu of Ipetumodu US incarceration, he called for going back to basics. The Apetu of Ipetumodu case is a very sad one.
“Maybe we should do our screening a bit more thoroughly
“Yoruba should be diligent and inquisitive when choosing their kings and the throne is not for the immature.”
“A few of our elderly traditional rulers I know are finding ways of settling the dispute.
“It is a lesson for communities when they want to appoint an Oba. People will have to double and triple check.”
He urged all traditional rulers in Yoruba land to face the reality and govern their space well in order to bring development and peace to the communities.
“All Oba in Yoruba land must face the reality. Just govern your space very well and there will be development and peace.
“There has to be a way of reorientating Yoruba Oba before they will damage the society,” he added.
