The family of the late Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, has accused members of the Owa-in-Council of demanding exorbitant levies for burial rites.
The family described the actions as against the late monarch’s values of integrity and harmony.
In a statement released on Thursday by Adebayo Adedeji on behalf of the Aromolaran family, the chiefs were accused of imposing frivolous charges and issuing threats to halt traditional rites if the payments were not made.
The allegations were contained in the statement titled, “Response to Various Publications Concerning the Just Concluded Celebration of Life Events for His Imperial Majesty, Late Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, CFR, LLD, the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland (Owa Aromolaran II).”
The family alleged that those demands added undue pressure during an already challenging period.
“The chiefs explicitly threatened that the rites would not be performed unless these payments were made. This coercive approach placed an enormous burden on the family,” the statement read.
The family further claimed that after making the payments under duress, disputes among the chiefs created factions that complicated the burial process.
They alleged some chiefs even sought to sabotage the events held in honour of Oba Aromolaran’s legacy, despite being informed of the plans in advance.
“These actions contradicted the communal values the late Oba championed.
WDespite these challenges, the Bepo-Aromolaran dynasty remains united and refuses to be divided by unfounded allegations or manipulations,” the statement added.
In response, the spokesperson for the Owa-in-Council, Chief Bola Orolugbagbe, dismissed the allegations, urging the family to identify specific individuals involved.
“Tell them to name the chiefs that are extorting them. That’s all. We are free, so they should just provide the names of those chiefs.
“The Owa-in-Council is not an individual. Let them name the chiefs and publish the names—that is all I have to say,” Orolugbagbe said.
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