Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, Laminisa I, may have tactically avoided installing a new Jagunmolu of Edeland.
The traditional ruler had reportedly lined up the installation of a former Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lt.-General Abdulrahman Dambazau as the Jagunmolu, as part of the activities to mark his 15th Coronation Anniversary.
As reported in some sections of the media last week, the installation of the former CoAS was scheduled to be held last Wednesday, 7 June, 2023.
Professor Tajudeen Akanji, the chairman of the 15th Anniversary Planning Committee, reportedly announced the decision to install the former CoAS as the Jagunmolu of Edeland.
However, nothing was heard about the installation, days after the planned date and days after the 15th coronation anniversary of Timi of Edeland.
The former CoAS may have turned down the offer of the title, though with a slight modification as the Aare Jagunmolu, in order not to be involved in any controversy in Edeland.
A prominent son of the town, Chief Yomi Alliyu SAN, had also stated that the title, Jagunmolu of Edeland, is not vacant.
The traditional ruler has however denied a report that he was seeking to strip the senior legal practitioner the title of Jagunmolu of Edeland.
Rather, it was made clear that the title he sought to give to General Dambazau is Aare Jagunmolu.
The Timi of Edeland was also said to have addressed Alliyu as Jagunmolu during a thanksgiving service the latter held when he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
When contacted on the issue, Chief Alliyu simply said: “I have not heard that Kabiyesi has installed anybody as Jagunmolu among the titles he awarded since Thursday.”
The legal luminary has, however, congratulated the Timi of Edeland on the occasion of his 15th Coronation Anniversary.
He also congratulated the traditional ruler on behalf of the three Senior Advocates from Edeland and the two heads of courts in Osun State (High Court and Customary Court of Appeal) who incidentally are indigenes of the town.
Speaking in Yoruba Language in a voice note sent to Newscoven.ng, Alliyu, the Jagunmolu of Edeland, congratulated the traditional ruler thus:
“Kabiyesi o! Kabiyesi o!! Kabiyesi!!! Igba odun, odun kan o.
“Omo ajilala oso. Omo aji f’ojo gbogbo dara bi egbin. Kii reni dede ka maa d’Ede, odo Timi nikan la o gbodo mon ya.
“Omo arun’gbado wo’lu. Omo arunguguru wole Ede. Eso Ikoyi, omo adiile d’ogun.
“Gbogbo awa agba meta amofin to ga ju lo ni Ilu Ede: Eyi ni Biodun Layoonu SAN, emi, Chief Yomi Alliyu SAN, Jagunmolu ti Ilu Ede ati aburo wa, Adetunmbi Musibau SAN, afi asiko yi ki Kabiyesi Oba Muniru Lawal Laminisa Kinni ti Ilu Ede, pe eku odun, eku iyedun. Igba odun, odun kan ni.
“A tun ya bara lati ki Kabiyesi loruko awon ti o wa ni eto idajo ti won ko gbodo soro si ita.
“Iyen ni iya wa, Adajo Agba Bola Ojo, omo Balogun Siyanbola tii se Aare Ile Idajo Ibile Kotemilorun, ati aburo wa, Adajo Akande.
“A pa enu po, a ki Kabiyesi wipe igba odun, odun kan. Oju a maa r’odun o. Abere yio di okinni. Irukere a pe lowo. Bata a pe lese o.
“Kabiyesi ooo!!!.”