There are indications that the seven aspirants vying for the position of the Olupele of Ipele stool in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State would have to cross fresh hurdles to scale through their Obaship ambition.
This came amid concerns over who gets the kingmakers’ consent to become king.
The aspirants include Olatunbosun Isijola, Ayodele Oginni, Olabode Olatosin, Olukayode Dairo, Olusola Ayuba, Samuel Daramola and Temitope Abu.
The contestants who are all from the Okeriwo ruling House, which is next in line to fill the stool, emerged on November 28, 2023, seven months after the demise of Oba Victor Agaun, the late monarch.
New Telegraph reports that the kinsman from Ipele and former Daily Times editor, Mr Dapo Aderinola, described the development as a marked departure from the past and a signal for change.
Further information revealed that each of them were to submit an abridged version of their blueprint for the town’s development.
This, according to the requirement would enable the kingmakers to determine how prepared they are for the job.
It was learnt that the kingmakers set the criterion after a meeting in Ipele to review the modalities for selecting the new king.
However, the requirement is designed to rate the performance of whoever emerged as the king in a bid to hold him accountable for his promise.
Meanwhile, the kingmakers are expected to reconvene on Friday, January 27, 2024, while the contestants are expected to sign an undertaking to abide by the kingmakers’ decision at a later date.