The death of the Odemo of Isara-Remo on May 1st, 2025, marked a day of mourning for the town, but the succession process has since sparked controversy, petitions, and public outcry.
By tradition, six ruling houses are entitled to the Odemo stool, with rotation determining which family produces the monarch. This cycle favored the Otete ruling house, from which seven candidates emerged.
Although each contestant was allegedly asked to purchase forms at ₦5 million initially, negotiations reportedly reduced the fee to ₦500,000.
Ifa Consultation and Selection
Among the Yoruba, the selection of an Oba is guided by the Ifa Oracle rather than voting.
When divination was conducted, sources claim that the Oracle ranked Asiwaju Olumuyiwa Sonupe as and Engr. Oladele Amoda as the top two candidates respectively.
However, rather than allowing the Oracle’s verdict to stand, kingmakers were said to have relied on their “gazette.” Allegations of bribery also began to circulate, raising suspicion among indigenes.
Events of September 8th
On the day scheduled for selection, residents were surprised by the presence of uniformed men and an armored vehicle.
Witnesses say the unusual security deployment created fear among the people.
At the end of the process, Bashorun Oluwole Ogunbayo, a real estate businessman, who was alleged to have gifted each Kingmaker 10M each and a plot of land was declared winner with all nine votes from the kingmakers.
He was paraded through the town and reportedly rushed into the Ipebi seclusion chamber that same night.
This development has triggered discontent among indigenes at home and abroad. Many insist that the process ignored tradition, disrespected the Oracle, and was marred by intimidation and corruption.
Several diaspora groups have petitioned Governor Dapo Abiodun, urging him to stop what they describe as an imposition and to uphold the Ifa verdict.
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