….Cautions Against Witch-hunting of Kingmakers by ‘Contestant’s Boys’
Following recent tension brewing in Ijare Community in Ifedore local Government Area of Ondo State, Some Elders and Leaders in the town have called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s State government and security agencies to arrest the ugly situation especially incessant attacks on kingmakers in the area.
Ijare town has been facing security concern in recent time due to a contest for the filling of the vacant stool of Olujare of ljare, which is pending before the Ondo State High Court of Justice, Akure Division, with two different suits filed by members of the Sejeokun Ruling House.
In a press statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, Chief Aarinmo, Prince Oluwole Oni , who doubles as the Head of Sejeokun Ruling House, Ijare Kingdom, described security situation around the kingmakers as worrisome as some boys from a section of the town usually attacked them as allegedly sponsored by one of the princes contesting the vacant stool.
According to Prince Oluwole Oni, “the incessant attacks on some of the kingmakers/chiefs and their properties by a group of boys from Isare Quarters in Ijare, sponsored by some of the contestants to the Olujare stool, which have been officially reported to the various security agencies for necessary action, calls for a serious attention/checkmate.
“Another dimension to the obaship tussle is the toga of arrogance of a section of the Sejeokun Ruling House, calling the bluff of the Ondo State Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs’ attempt to resolve and settle the matter out of court. So there is no basis for witch-hunting the kingmakers who are law abiding citizens, as they hold the belief that the due process must be followed regarding the filling of the vacant stool, which the suits (cases) in court are meant to address.
“As it is today ljare Community is in a state of anomie (social disorder and lawlessness); the said “Isare boys” (drug addicts and criminals) have vowed to sniff life out of the kingmakers, nine (9) of them who are perceived as not supporting their sponsors’ aspiration. And the said kingmakers have consistently run to the security agencies for refuge and protection vide series of save-our-souls petitions, as the said “Isare boys” are hinging their attacks on the obaship race (the filling of Olujare vacant stool).
“It is our clarion call and prayer that the security agencies should please do more to address the ordeals of the said kingmakers, some of whom are now refugees in other towns; and they should endeavour to study the merit of the various petitions already written against the “Isare boys”, who continue to boast around, claiming that nobody can effect their arrest and prosecution – because they and their sponsors believe that their persistent lies against the truth will continue to hold sway.
“URGING OUR SECURITY AGENCIES TO DO MORE CONCERNING THE IJARE OBASHIP TUSSLE/FILLING OF THE VACANT STOOL OF OLUJARE OF IJARE: A school of thought defines law as “an instrument of social engineering” (Rosco Pound). Prof. Lon Fuler, in his own definition, defines law as “The enterprise of subjecting human conduct to governance of rules”. The attempt by Ijare Community to go back to the stone age ideology of survival of the fittest (“homo homonis lopus est” – man to man was a wolf) really calls for a serious concern on the part of our security agencies and the government, in so far citizens, institutions and government alike are bound by the rule of law.
“It is a notorious fact that the contest for the filling of the vacant stool of Olujare of ljare is, presently speaking, the subject matter of two different suits filed by members of the Sejeokun Ruling House (the only ruling house) in the Ondo State High Court of Justice, Akure Division.
“The kernel of the two cases, strict senso, borders on the filling of the vacant stool. The two suits (cases) are: CHIEF OLUWOLE ONI & 4 ORS. VS. PRINCE JIMOH ALIU & 10 ORS (Suit No: AK/216/2023) and PRINCE SHITTU SALAMI FATAI ADEGOROYE & 1 OR. VS. PRINCE JIMOH ALIU & 10 OTHERS.
“Therefore, flowing from the above stated information, the contest for the filling of the vacant stool of Olujare of ljare is subjudiced hence no steps can be taken by anybody or authority on the matter until a final pronouncement is made by the court on what ought to be concerning the reliefs sought by the parties to the pending suits (cases).”
“Finally, it is our humble appeal to the security agencies (both Federal and the State) to rise up and bail ljare Community from sliding into a state of anarchy,” he said.
