By: Ade Adeleke
Concerned Youths of Okeigbo Kingdom on Tuesday, 31st October, 2023 staged a peaceful protest at the Ondo State Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs at Alagbaka Akure to warn against imposition of illegal candidate as the next Oluoke of Okeigbo.
The youths are from Kuole Oloje Ruling House, the next family to present candidate(s) for the vacant stool of the Oluoke.
The young people had displayed placards calling on the Ondo State government to as an matter of urgency halt imposition of Oba on Okeigbo kingdom.
The Chairman, Dare Ojetayo who noted that Oluoke stool is on rotational basis, said the last occupant of the throne was from Aare Kugbayigbe, meaning, it is the turn of KUOLE OLOJE RULING HOUSE to produce the next Oba
According to him, the group is aware of clandestine moves by some people in government working in cahoots with members of the Kugbayigbe Ruling House to impose a candidate based on the justification of a high Court judgement which has been appealed against.
The group however use the opportunity to frown at any attempt to foist anyone on the throne saying it remains subjudice and illegal.
“Are Kugbayigbe cannot reign twice thus depriving our Ruling House, Kuole Oloje, our inalienable right to occupy the throne at this auspicious time.
“We want to appeal to you sir, not to allow these people throw Okeigbo kingdom into another round of crisis, the magnitude of which no one can predict. No Ruling House has occupied the throne twice in succession in the history of Okeigbo”, he added saying the Kugbayigbe people wants to eat their cake and have it.”
He further stressed saying as law-abiding citizens, the people want peace to be maintained in their homestead, Okeigbo.
He also used the opportunity to implore the State Commissioner in the Ministry to use his good office to prevail on the Are Kugbayigbe people to embrace peace and desist from the evil plot of imposing anyone on the community as king.
Addressing the protesters, the State Commissioner for Local Government Chieftaincy & Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro assured the youths that the state government has no special interest in the matter, but only wants peaceful selection and development of the town.
He advised them to come together under a united umbrella and sort out the issues amicably in order to avoid a situation whereby the community remains without a head or the ministry is forced to follow court judgment.
