10 Reasons Why Akinrun Stool Has Generated Undue Attraction To Ikirun

Ikirun is a town located in Osun State, Southwest of Nigeria. It is the headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area. 

It is a historical city that derived its name from the first ruler of the town called Akinorun and Akinrun is the title of the traditional ruler who presides over the town. Ikirun is bounded by Iragbiji, Osogbo, and Obaagun and Odo-Otin local government area.

The Akinrun is a first-class monarch, so the anxiety to get a suitable candidate to occupy the stool and the pressures that have been brought to bear on the royal houses and Kingmakers is understandable even though in Yoruba culture the deities have their say but nowadays, it is the politicians who have their way.

Below are ten reasons why the Akinrun stool is generating so much schism in Osun.

1. Three ruling houses produces the Akinrun in succession. They are the Obara, Adedeji and Gboleru ruling houses.

2. The last Akinrun emerged from the Adedeji ruling house, so the next Akinrun is supposed to emerge from the Gboleru ruling house.

3. The members of the Gboleru ruling house were fighting each other for the kingship which prompted an Osun State High Court to direct the next ruling house in order of succession, which is the Obara ruling house to produce the next Akinrun.

4. Gboleru ruling house sought a court order to restrain the state government and Obaara ruling house from producing the next Akinrun and they got it.

5. The Ikirun Kingmakers at a time became compromised. They were lured to Osogbo and coerced by some agents of the state government to approve the nomination of Prince Akadri of the Obara ruling house as the Akinrun-elect.

6. They have been protesting and counter-protests in the town with each side threatening a showdown with the state government if it did not crown their candidate as the Akinrun.

7. The Akinrun of Ikirun is the paramount traditional ruler of Ikirun town. Ikirun is the headquarters of Ifelodun local government area of Osun State.

8. Like in most Yoruba towns, the Ifa oracle was consulted. Also, churches and mosques were consulted during this selection process as claimed by the Akinrun Kingmakers.

9. Past Akinrun of Ikirun includes; Olasinde Obaara, Gboleru, Aye Munije, Adedeji I, Olusosun, Fatolu, Oyewole, Lalowo, Oyebode, Ola, Akadiri (1887 - 1917), Oba Kolawole (1917 - 1940), Oba Kusamotu Oyewole, Oba Lawani Adeyemi Oyejola (1945 - 1989), Oba Abdul-Rauf Adewale Adedeji II (1990 - 2021).

10. Notwithstanding who the choice of the next Akinrun is, whoever occupied the stool will certainly be educated and highly connected.