The ancient crown and royal beads of the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Ife North Local Government, Osun State, have disappeared, deepening the crisis around the embattled monarch, Oba Joseph Oloyede.
The development comes barely two weeks after a U.S. court sentenced Oloyede to 56 months in prison over a $4.2 million COVID-19 fraud.
Sources in the town told The Nation that aides and loyalists of the monarch allegedly removed the sacred items from his residence, which had been serving as the palace after the demolition of the original structure.
A woman and some close aides were said to have been tasked with evacuating the crown and beads. Community leaders have described the disappearance as a serious setback, warning that it may create a spiritual and cultural dilemma for the town when the time comes to enthrone a new ruler.
“The crown is missing, and those behind it don’t know the danger they are courting. They risk invoking the fury of the deities of this ancient land. It is in their best interest to return the crown and beads before it’s too late,” a chieftain from one of the ruling houses said.
Since Oloyede’s conviction in the U.S., agitation for his replacement has intensified among princes and ruling houses.
When reporters visited Ipetumodu, the community appeared tense. While markets and streets were busy as usual, the mood was heavy with hushed conversations about the missing crown, the shame brought by the monarch’s conviction, and the uncertainty facing the revered stool.
Osun Community In Tension As Ancient Crown, Royal Beads Vanish from Apetu’s Palace
