The chiefs said it became necessary for them to debunk the insinuations having heard that some people interested in the vacant stool of Onikoka had told the government that they were all dead, and that warrant chiefs should be appointed to perform the duty of selecting a new monarch for the town.
The last Onikoka, Oba Emmanuel Fadare, joined his ancestors early in the year and the kingmakers said they had already commenced the process of selecting a new royal father for the town.
The Oriisa of Koka, Chief Lasisi Samotu, while addressing newsmen in Osogbo, on Tuesday, on behalf of five other kingmakers in the town, said none of the kingmakers in Koka had died.
Speaking in Yoruba language, Samotu further said, “It is sad that some people who are hellbent on writing a wrong story for our town are going around telling lies about us to suit their inordinate desire. We, the kingmakers of Koka-Ijesa, are alive. They said we are dead. That is far from the truth. We are all here to address the press, that we are not dead.
“We have been kingmakers for over 17 years. We had actively participated in the selection of the past two reigning kings in our town. Nobody can appoint any warrant chief while we are still alive. We are surprised to hear that one king in our neighbouring town is going around telling people that we have died. We want to tell the whole world to discard their false claim, nobody can replace us.
“We know that our able governor, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, is a man of honour and somebody who follows due process. We call on him to verify our claims and frustrate every plan to destabilise our peaceful town.”
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