THE Olugbon royal family of Orile igbon in Oyo State has appealed to Governor Abiola Ajimobi to call to order, the Caretaker Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Ibrahim Gbodeniyi, over his personal involvement in the chieftaincy crisis rocking the town.
Spokesperson of the family, Adesola Akanbi, told newsmen on Tuesday that despite the fact that the court has restrained the local government and indeed the state government from recognizing anyone as the Olugbon of Orile igbon, the caretaker council chairman is still trying to impose a monarch on the people of the ancient town.
“The Olugbon family insisted that what is presently transpiring in the town is a blatant disregard for the Law of Nigeria. It can be revealed that Gbodeniyi has continued to shower encomiums, escort to functions, and even gave vehicles to the person he anointed as the new Olugbon against all customary laws.
“It must be noted that such acts are fueling a crisis in the town. Prime Igbon indegenes are calling on Governor Ajimobi to respectfully nip this imbroglio and ongoing crisis in the bud, “as a stitch in time saves nine.
“The court of Law has said that no one should parade himself as the Olugbon. Still we have a man pretending to be the Olugbon of Orile Igbon. The court has restrained the local government and indeed the state government from recognizing anyone as the Olugbon.
“The court has implicitly said that no paraphernalia of office or accolade should be accorded to anyone till the court case to remove the man who the Surulere local government caretaker chairman erroneously imposed on this ancient community is concluded.
“What is transpiring is a blatant disregard for the law. It seems the court has no jurisdiction or no power over the Surulere local government or over the Local government and Chietaincy office in Ibadan.
“Chairman Gbodeniyi claims he takes his orders from the Secretariat in Ibadan at the Ministry of Local government and chieftaincy affairs headed by Mr. Bimbo Kolade, who is the commissioner who signed the order on behalf of Governor Ajimobi. Due diligence rather than over-zealousness would have averted this whole mistake.”
Efforts of ReportersAtLarge to reach the council chairman proved abortive, as at the time of filling in this report.
