Alleged appointment and installation of a non indigene as the Alaboto of Aboto, is now brewing tension at the coastal community of Mahin in Ilaje local government area of Ondo state.
In a Statement made available to newsmen, on behalf of Mahin kingdom, the Chairman of Mahin Central Organization, Pastor Oyekan Arije, insisted that Aboto is a community under Mahin Kingdom and not under Ugbo kingdom.
The stool of ABOTO became vacant in January 2021 after the demise of Oba Beniah Adeola Idiogbe, whose daughter, Princess Olajiire Margaret Odusami- Idiogbe, was appointed on the 20th of January 2021 as the Regent in accordance with the Customary law.
The key stakeholders from Mahin kingdom vowed not to recognise the appointment of the new monarch, alleging that the new traditional ruler hails from Ugbo and not Mahin kingdom.
Pastor Arije noted that the appointment and subsequent installation of an Ugbo indigene is illegal, unacceptable and would be resisted.
According to him “Aboto is home to people from different parts of Nigeria enjoying the hospitality of the people of Mahin and the Amapetu which guarantees peaceful co-existence of all but no person, not of Mahin origin, has ever been and shall never be ruler of Aboto.
“That the imposition of the stranger Ikohi of Ugbo at Aboto is part of the grand agenda to protect illegal and primitive grabbing of land by people in high places and shall be resisted in perpetuity enduring all pains and deprivations by persons exercising transient powers.
“That the official shenanigans in Aboto is not different from that of the Mahin town of Igbokoda where some known armed bandits and non-indigenes are encouraged to continually unleash violence on the Oba and his people making a large part of the town inaccessible in the illegal claim of land ownership despite clear judgements since 1917 and up to the Supreme Court.
“This too shall be resisted by Mahin including the manipulation of Commissions of Inquiry to create chieftaincies which are non-existent in customs and traditions.
“That the Mahin people shall continue to resist these multiple assaults by the Ondo State Government on our history, customs and traditions which define our identity and existence no matter the pains, deprivation or even attractions”
The leader of the Mahin Central Organization, explained that the people approached the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa over the shocking and illegal appointment of an Ugbo person as the Alaboto on the 9th of January 2025.
He said the solicitors to the community was directed to write the governor “who told the Mahin delegation led by the Amapetu how he persuaded the late Governor Akeredolu in vain to appoint an Ikohi Ugbo person to succeed Oba Idiogbe and having now made the appointment, the Mahin people should go to court if not satisfied.
“The unlawful imposition of persons from Ugbo on Mahin soil as traditional rulers will have monumental implications for the chieftaincy architecture and peaceful co-existence in Ilaje land.
“That is why several communities in Ugbo founded by or predominantly of persons of Mahin origin have never challenged the Prescribed Authority of the Olugbo.
“Even in new chieftaincies recognised in Ugboland since 2003 including the Olubo of Obe-Nla (the home town of Governor Aiyedatiwa) Alagho of Odo-Nla and Odoka of Obe-Ogbaro, no person not historically associated, not even members from the female lineage, is allowed to be incorporated into their chieftaincy arrangements.”
