Aree Stool: Prince Ali Afolabi Always Stand For Iree Town When Chips Are Down – Stakeholders
TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Stakeholders in Iree town, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State have expressed deep appreciation to a business mogul, Prince Afolabi Ali for standing for the town during the chieftaincy crisis that rocked it.
They also congratulated the state governor, Ademola Adeleke over his victory at the Supreme Court and described it as manifestation of the overall love and support the governor enjoys from Osun citizens and beyond.
Speaking, one of the stakeholders in Iree, Alhaji Kareem Rahman, urged Governor Adeleke to expedite action on chieftaincy crisis his administration inherited, of which Iree is among, and ensure that due process and justice are done on who becomes the next Aree of Iree.
They commended one of the Princes of the ancient town and a leading aspirant to the Aree stool, Prince Ali Afolabi, for standing for Iree when the chips are down, saying the Prince ensured that efforts of some unscrupulous elements to rubbish the town’s throne and install anarchy on the land didn’t prevail.
Rahman said as the ancient town gradually recovers from “The needless crisis the outgone administration of Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress plunged it into through imposition of a wrong person as the Aree of Iree, an unlawful and illegal installation which had been nullified by the Executive Order of Governor Ademola Adeleke,”, the town should not forget the remarkable roles played by the likes of Prince Ali Afolabi whose resources and interventions contributed in restoring order and peace to the land.
He said Afolabi of the Olubonku Ruling House, Iree, risked everything to rescue the traditional institution and the town at large from injustice, stressing that the business mogul is one of the illustrious sons of the ancient town who has invested in Iree and facilitated development for the good of all.
“It is on record that Prince Ali Afolabi’s timely interventions brought the illegality that Oyetola and his ilks perpetrated in Iree to the public attention through the media and other acceptable channels, this necessitating the steps taken by the administration of His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke to right the wrong.
“There is no gain stating how Prince Ali Afolabi promptly intervened when some Iree Chiefs were arrested and detained and ensured that they were released. Also, the resources he sacrificed in ensuring that the matter sustained legal test cannot be over-emphasized,” Rahman said.
Other stakeholders of the town said, “When the chips were down, Prince Ali Afolabi stood his ground and fought an attempt by the immediate past administration and its former Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Adebayo Adeleke (Banik) to rubbish the custom and traditions of the good people of Iree by disregarding the suit before an Osun State High Court in Ikirun and going ahead to select one Ponle Ademola without the presence of the kingmakers.
“We believe that Iree town will be eternally grateful to Prince Ali Afolabi for the patriotic roles he played in illuminating the dark cloud that was hovering around the town over Aree stool and we have no doubt that he has the wherewithal and capacity to usher in development to the town if he ascends the throne of his forefathers.
“Of great importance is the quick intervention of Governor Adeleke whose Executive Order not only saved the throne from imposition and illegality, but also ensured that Iree was not engulfed in crisis.
“We congratulate the people’s governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke for his triumph at the Supreme Court. This victory further attests to the goodwill the governor enjoys from the people of Osun.
“As we patiently await the White Paper of the state government on the Chieftaincy Matters affecting Iree, we have no doubt that Governor Adeleke will do justice and ensure due process in Aree stool,” they noted.
