ORIMOLUSI: I PROMISE WITHDRAWAL FROM COURT - Prince Wale Kassim

*ORIMOLUSI: I PROMISE WITHDRAWAL FROM COURT - Prince Wale Kassim 26 years after*

By

Sesan Adeiyi

5th August, 2020

One of the top aspirants to the revered traditional Stools in Ijebuland - Orimolusi throne, Prince Omowale Mushafau Kassim, who has been contending with other co-aspirants in the court of law for the past 26year, has reiterated his commitment through his goodwill message to Ijebu Igbo, to join others in the withdrawal of the pending case from court for amicable settlement.

It must be recalled that the ancient town of Ijebu Igbo has been without its traditional ruler for the past 26 years when the last occupier, Oba Sami Adetayo, joined his ancestors.

The struggle amongst the contestants who aspire to ascend the throne since 1994 has escalated from High court to Apex court with which every Litigant aspires for their legitimate right to the Stool be interpreted, determined and established, all in line with the Chieftaincy Declaration of the town.

Meanwhile, upon all reconciliatory interventions by the community Elders and some major independent Peace-making groups who patriotically canvased to all the three Litigants for out-of-court settlement before the February, 2020 fixed for hearing at Supreme court, no positive result came out of the painstaking efforts, as the pending case continues to hold the town stagnated progressively.

But among the three Litigants, Prince Wale Kassim on his own premonition considered much respectfully the plight of the community by coming out of his confinement to address the good people of Ijebu Igbo on the message that gives hope to the end of the 26 years interregnum.

In his message as both written in English and Yoruba, Prince Wale, having explained that he was duly nominated by the family, duly elected by the kingmakers and duly paid the traditional right to the consenting authority, promised the entire people of Ijebu Igbo that, if the case slated for February, 2020 in Supreme Court is not attended to, he will sheath his sword to join other Litigants in the withdrawal of the case from Supreme Court for amicable resolution.

Paragraph 9 in the message reads thus:

*Fun ilosiwaju ilu wa, Ijebu Igbo, ati ki a le je Oba Orimolusi ni odun 2020 ti a maa bosi yi, emi Wale Kassim, fi nda yin loju wipe, ti ko ba si idajo ni Osu keji Odun 2020 bi a se ngbo, maa fara mo eto wipe ki gbogbo olupejo ati olujejo pa enu po gbe ejo na kuro ni ile ejo agba, ki a pada wa fi ile too ni itubi inubi.*

Hence, almost eight months after the message was released to the public, investigation reveals that the promised made by Prince Wale Kassim has not been fulfilled as the case previously slated for February2020 has been adjourned indefinitely.

When further enquired from his close associate as regards the delay in the fulfillment of the promise made , it was reliably gathered that there has never been any further move to enforce the plight of the community. Even, it was emphasized that the three Litigants are, as at writing this report, not in good term to reach a relieving consensus that will lead to withdrawal of the case from Supreme court for fresh process as ordered in the Appeal court judgement.