A new Ataoja of Osogbo, who will succeed the late Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi III, will be named this  week, shortly after Ramadan celebration, close sources to the Osogbo Kingmakers have revealed.

However, tension continues to mount in the ancient town as some youths threatened to burn down the houses of some kingmakers over alleged corruption on the selection of a new monarch for the town.

Sunday Tribune gathered that there were rife allegations that some kingmakers had been induced financially by some elites to favour a particular candidate for the throne while they were also promised a car each.

The alleged financial inducement, it was further gathered had polarised the eight kingmakers, as three of them allegedly turned down the money offered then claiming that they were contented with whatever God had given to them.

Three of the sixteen contestants who are from Laroye Ruling House whose turn it is to produce the next Ataoja are mostly favoured in the contest by Osogbo elites, who were allegedly divided on religious line.

Three highly favoured contestants are Alhaji Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Secretary, Osogbo Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Hon. Leo Awoyemi, member, House of Representatives and Alhaji Kayode Adebisi, a staff of Obokun Local Government.

It was gathered that on getting wind of the financial inducement, the youths allegedly sent signals to some of the kingmakers that they should return the money, threatening that their refusal to do so might lead to the burning of their houses.

One of the affected kingmakers (names withheld) who did not deny the allegation that money had exchanged hands however said that there was no case of bribery in chieftaincy matters adding that “what is happening is a contest to the throne where contestants give introductory kola “Ko si a ngba riba nibi Oba, won ma ndu oye ni sugbon eniti yoo ba du oye yoo san owo ikanlekun. Gbogbo omo oba to ba fe je Oba yoo san Owo ikanlekun.”

Following the threat, no fewer than 26 Osogbo High Chiefs including some Kingmakers held a meeting at the compound hall of Chief Gabriel Oparanti, the Ajagunna of Osogbo who is the head of the eight kingmakers early on Friday.