Residents of Ibese community in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have stormed the Governor’s office in Abeokuta, the state capital, protesting alleged plans to impose a new traditional ruler on the town.
The protesters comprising youths, women and community leaders, in their hundreds, warned the government not to set the community on fire over the plan to install “wrong candidate.”
The residents singing solidarity songs to express their displeasure carried placards with various inscriptions, including “Mr Governor, Do Not Let Ogun State Attorney spoil the good name you have earned over the years,” “Attorney General should know better and respect the rule of law,” among others.
Speaking with newsmen, Prince Abdulhakeem Idowu, said the Oloko ruling House, next in line to produce new monarch, had selected Prince Abdulazeez Adedimeji Idowu and handed him over to the kingmakers as the sole candidate for the vacant stool of the community.
Idowu said contrary the candidate submitted, the kingmakers backed one Prince Rotimi Mulero, whom he described as ineligible to the throne.
According to him, the anomaly had been been challenged before the court, but surprisingly the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sina Ogungbade had issued a letter, urging government to go ahead with the installation of Mulero as the new monarch.
He warned the government against disrupting the peace of the community, saying the residents would resist installation of Mulero as new monarch.
Idowu also called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to allow court to determine the current suit over the Obaship tussle.
“This case in the court already, we are pleading to the government to wait until the determination of the matter.
“We should do things accordingly. I want them to know that we don’t want anything that will disrupt the peace of Ibeseland. Ibese is vital to the economy of Ogun State because play host to the largest factory in the whole of West Africa.
“We don’t want anything that will disrupt the peace of our community. We want the government or whoever that is involved to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the selection process of the Oba in Ibese,” he said.
Responding, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape assured the protesters that the government would be fair and just on the appointment of the new monarch.
He also asked residents to go back to the drawing board and resolve the matter amicably.
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