The Palace of the Orangun of Ila-Orangun has distanced the revered monarch and the Ila Traditional Council from a widely circulated statement claiming that the ancient town had endorsed the second-term governorship ambition of Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
In a strongly worded rebuttal issued by the Traditional Secretary to the Orangun’s Palace, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwahab Kayode Adedotun Bibire II, described the publication released through the Osun State Ministry of Information as false, misleading and an unauthorised attempt to drag the traditional institution into partisan politics.
The palace’s reaction followed a statement issued on Saturday by the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, titled “Ila Leaders Pledge Support for Ademola Adeleke 2nd Term.”
The government statement had claimed that a delegation of Ila-Orangun high chiefs visited Governor Adeleke on the instruction of the Orangun and pledged the support of the people of Ila-Orangun for the governor’s re-election bid.
According to the statement signed by Alimi, “the high chiefs who came on the instruction of the Kabiyesi, the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Kayode Adedotun Bibire II, pledge the support of the Ila people for the 2nd term of Ademola Adeleke.”
The delegation, led by Chief Douglas Oyinlola, the Obalotun of Ila-Orangun, was also quoted as dissociating the community from the political position of Senator Olabiyi Fadeyi Ajagunla, and some Ila chiefs said to be supporting him.
The statement further claimed that “the Orangun of Ila, His Royal Majesty Oba Abdul Wahab Kayode Adedotun Bibire II and the majority of the people of Ila-Orangun appreciate all the developmental projects carried out in Ila-Orangun, especially the dual carriage way.”
It added that the chiefs assured Governor Adeleke that “the majority of the people of Ila-Orangun will vote en masse for Governor Adeleke during the Osun State governorship election coming up on 15th August, 2026.”
Responding to the delegation, Governor Adeleke reportedly appreciated the visit and assured the people of more development, saying “he takes Ila-Orangun as his second home.”
However, in a rebuttal released on Sunday, the Orangun’s Palace categorically denied every claim suggesting that the monarch authorised or had prior knowledge of the visit.
The palace stated that “it has come to the notice of His Royal Majesty, the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Kayode Adedotun Bibire II, that a publication purporting to represent the collective voice and support of the Ila people for the second-term ambition of Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has been circulated by the Osun State Ministry of Information.”
While acknowledging Governor Adeleke’s office and developmental efforts in the community, the monarch said the throne would not be associated with any political endorsement.
“While His Royal Majesty holds the office of the Governor in high esteem and appreciates developmental efforts in the kingdom, he wishes to categorically and unequivocally disassociate himself and the stool of Orangun from the contents of the said press release,” the statement declared.
The palace also rejected claims that the governor’s visitors acted on the instruction of the monarch.
According to the statement, “His Royal Majesty, the Orangun of Ila, did not at any time instruct, authorise, or delegate any chief or group of chiefs to embark on a solidarity visit to the Governor on his behalf or on behalf of the Ila Traditional Council regarding any political endorsement.”
The palace further challenged the status of those who met with the governor, insisting they neither represented the traditional council nor possessed the customary authority to speak for the kingdom.
“The individuals mentioned in the said release—including Chief Douglas Oyinlola (Obalotun) and others—are not members of the Inner Cabinet or Senior Traditional Council of Ila-Orangun. They are lower-class chieftaincy title holders who lack the customary authority to speak on behalf of the Orangun, the Traditional Council, or the entire people of Ila-Orangun. Their visit was a private political excursion, not a traditional delegation,” the statement said.
The monarch also dismissed suggestions that he was aware of the visit before it took place.
“The Orangun was not aware of the visit nor its purpose until the publication surfaced. No prior consultation or notification was made to the Palace, and therefore, any claim that the visit was ‘on the instruction’ of the Kabiyesi is false, misleading, and disrespectful to the throne,” the palace stated.
Reaffirming the neutrality of the traditional institution ahead of the August 15 governorship election, the palace maintained that the Orangun would remain above partisan politics.
“His Royal Majesty remains a father to all sons and daughters of Ila-Orangun, regardless of political affiliations. The traditional institution does not, and will not, take a partisan stance in the upcoming gubernatorial election. The Orangun’s duty is to pray for peace, progress, and good governance for Osun State, not to issue political endorsements,” the statement added.
The palace urged the Osun State Government, media organisations and members of the public to disregard the earlier government statement, describing it as a misrepresentation of the position of the throne.
“His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwahab Kayode Adedotun Bibire II, hereby urges the Osun State Government, the media, and the general public to disregard the said publication in its entirety. The Palace views this incident as an act of gross misconduct and impersonation of royal authority, and appropriate customary actions will be taken against the chiefs who engaged in this unauthorised political adventure without the King’s consent.”
The monarch reiterated that the Palace exists to unite the people of Ila-Orangun and not to serve as a platform for partisan political interests.
“The Orangun of Ila remains committed to the welfare and unity of all indigenes and residents of Ila-Orangun and reaffirms that the Palace is not a tool for partisan politics.”
The palace concluded by stating that “for the avoidance of doubt, this rebuttal supersedes any previous claims made in the said government press release.”
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