ABEOKUTA– Oja-Odan community in Yewa-North Local Government area has urged the Ogun state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to warn the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Afolabi Afuape over attempt to impose illegal Obaship candidate on the town
This was contained in a signed petition by the founding families of the town under the umbrella of Oja-Odan Descendants Union, which comprises of Apetu, Abijo, Eluku, Oje, Segbe, Jangi, Onirookun, Edun and Fade families made available to The News Ville on Monday.
The accused Afuape of, “unfairly twisting the long established traditional facts and affirmed legal positions in relations to Oja-Odan Obaship stool with a view to surreptitiously present one Banji Olowobeshe for appointment as the Oba.
The petition addressed to the governor dates November 29 was titled “Manipulation of the commissioner for Local Government Affairs and the ministry of Justice by some money bag individuals to twist facts and sabotage various courts judgements in order to impose a stranger and an unpopular candidate -Banji Olowobeshe on the good people of Oja-Odan ”
They however appealed to the government against desecration of the traditional institution which could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the already peaceful Oja-Odan town .
The petition further reads, “the honourable Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs to call a stakeholders meeting involving all the founders of the town with a view to being properly guided on approving the right candidate for the stool of Oba of Oja-Odan.
“We confirm further that there is ongoing concerted efforts in the department of Civil Litigation of the ministry of Justice by the same individuals without conscience , to switch the consistent position of the Ogun State government since 1999”.
They said the state gazette recognizes the Onitoro of Itori as the prescribed authority over Oja-Odan and which the Onitori has since been exercising .
The petitioners added that various High courts judgements have settled the Obaship tussle, adding that the court of appeal had ruled that Onitoro is the recognized prescribed authority over Oja-Odan.
“It was in line with this known position that Onitoro confirmed the nomination of Prince Monday Apetu from the Apetu royal family for onward presentation to the government for his eventual appointment.
“It is instructive to state that the Apetus produced the first Baale of Oja-Odan. It is therefore, our well-considered resolve that the candidate for the Obaship stool of Oja-Odan shouid be from Apetu family or better still, that the current Baale be upgraded to an Oba”, the petitioners stated
The petitioners therefore call on the governor to “call for investigation on the unethical efforts to change and twist the known facts and government position in relation to Oja-Odan Obaship stool.
“Prevail on the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to convene a stakeholders meeting particularly or the founding families of Oja-Odan, before presenting any other candidate aside the one jointly agreed upon and selected through Apetu family for Onitoro for nomination to the honourable Commissioner.”
