In a bid to maintain peace and security of lives and property within the state, the Okunbadejo Ruling House of Oda community, in Akure South local government of Ondo state, has called on the state government to intervene in the looming crisis trailing the kingship tussle in the town.
The Ruling House also called on the Ondo state governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to wade into the kingship crisis at Oda town over alleged plans to manipulate the stool and install an in-law of the ruling house as monarch of the town.
Speaking on behalf of the Okunbadejo ruling house of the Oda community, Mr. Sunday Omoseebi asked the state government and the community kingmakers to maintain the status quo in the selection of a new monarch for the town until the determination of suit before the Supreme Court.
He called on the state government and the security agencies in the state to intervene in the looming crisis in the town over the installation of a regent after the demise of the traditional, wrongly installed regent before it turns into a full-blown crisis.
Omoseebi said the call became necessary following the death of the late traditional head, Julius Ajayi Omomo, who was wrongly installed as the traditional ruler of the town.
He said the late Omomo was wrongly installed as the traditional ruler of the town after the report of the screening committee confirmed that Omomo was not from the lineage of the Okunbadejo ruling house.
He said that despite sending the recommendations of the screening committee to the Chairman of Akure South local government and kingmakers of the town, the illegal installation was carried out without the approval of the governor.
He, however, alleged that the late monarch ordered the suspension of some traditional chiefs and removal of the Regent of the town, giving the title to his junior sister, while some honorary chiefs were installed
He claimed that the late monarch was installed by the then Chairman of Akure South local government and the Permanent Secretary Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs without the state Executive Council’s approval, while his name was not included in the list of local government Obas because of the illegality.
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The Okunbadejo ruling house, however, halted the selection of a new monarch for the town since the case instituted by the Ruling house is still in Supreme Court with Ref. No. SC/CV251/2024 of April 19, 2024.
According to him, the other ruling Houses have been agitating for the selection process to commence but appealed that the kingmakers and state government should halt the selection of a new king for the town.
He said this is to give room for peace, allow the law to take its course and determine the lineage of the late Omomo if he was a member of Okunbadejo ruling house after he was disqualified during the family selection process.
The Family head said: “This intervention is necessary to curb and guide against looming crisis in the town, as some elements have been going around to cause trouble.
“They have been going around, destroying property and creating fears among members of the community.
“We want to appeal to the next ruling house to maintain peace pending the outcome of the Supreme Court judgement.”
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