By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti
The Ogunmegbokanle Ruling House of Osi-Ekiti has made an impassioned appeal to the Ekiti State Government to formally recognize them as one of the legitimate ruling houses entitled to the Olosi of Osi throne.
In a letter addressed to the State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, through their legal representatives, Morakinyo Ogele and Co., the Ogunmegbokanle family detailed their historical grievances and the longstanding exclusion from the throne.
The family asserted that their call for inclusion stems from historical injustices that have sidelined the Ogunmegbokanle descendants since the reign of their forebear, the first Olosi of Osi-Ekiti. They lamented that despite Ogunmegbokanle’s significant role in the town’s establishment, his descendants have not been given the opportunity to ascend the throne.
The letter highlighted the historical journey of Ogunmegbokanle, who left Ile-Ife around 1240 AD, carrying royal regalia, and eventually established Osi-Ekiti. Historical records, including those from the Ooni of Ife, confirm Ogunmegbokanle’s royal lineage and his rightful claim to the throne.
Citing archival documents from the Federal Ministry of Information and historical books by local authors, the family provided substantial evidence of Ogunmegbokanle’s legacy as the founding Oba of Osi-Ekiti.
The letter urged the state government to officially add Ogunmegbokanle to the recognized ruling houses in Osi-Ekiti. They also requested permission to present a candidate for the ongoing selection process, emphasizing the unresolved conflicts within the current ruling house.
The Ogunmegbokanle Ruling House argued that involving their family in the current selection process could resolve the stalemate, stating, “If the stalemate now in Osi persists, the government should solve the problem by inviting our Ruling House to present a candidate for the kingmakers to become Olosi of Osi.”
The ruling house concluded their plea by urging the state government to form a chieftaincy panel to verify these historical records and ensure their rightful recognition and participation in the selection of the next Olosi.
In their own words: “In view of this, we humbly request that the family is duly recognized and accorded the right to produce a candidate for the throne of the Olosi.”