Abiodun Turning Ogun State To Banana Republic Over Monarch Installation, Iwaye Dodo Royal Family Alleges

 

R-L: Ogun state Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, presenting Staff of Office to the new Onipokia of Ipokia, Oba Yisa Olaniyan

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji 

ABEOKUTA - The Iwaye Dodo ruling house in the ancient Ipokia town located in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State has protested against the installation of Oba Yisa Olaniyan as the 46th Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom.

Ogun State Government had on Wednesday August 12, 2020 through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape installed the controversial monarch at a ceremony held at Iwaye Adodo Ancestral Meeting Hall Ipokia. 

The families comprising of Asade, Adekanbi, Oteni and Okeleye condemned the state government decision to install the new monarch despite series of petitions against his nomination, saying the government under Governor Abiodun has turned the state to Banana Republic. 

The family in a swift reaction to the development declared in a statement signed by its secretary, Ruth Okeleye said the installation was illegal claiming that the government had earlier annulled the selection process via a letter reference number CHM.3/18vol.IV/84 dated 10th May 2019 through the Ogun State ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy.

 According to her, "the presentation of Staff of Office which was hurriedly and secretly done by Hon. Commissioner Afuwape, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Ogun State on behalf of the State Government has confirmed our statement of June 15th,2020 in our protest against the Ogun State government's approval for installation of Yisa Olaniyan as the King of Ipokia in which we cried out loud and clear that Ogun State Government under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun was turning Ogun State to a Banana Republic". 

The families recalled that their protest of June 15 2020, was premised upon the letter of 30th March, 2020 from the Ministry of local government and Chieftaincy Affairs to Transition Chairman, Ipokia Local Government and Ipokia   Council of Chiefs to begin the process of installation of Yisa Olaniyan as next Onipokia despite pending litigations over the matter in court.

"Whereas, Hon. Justice Ogunfowora at the High Court Ogun State sitting at the Ilaro Division on 19th August, 2019 declared the stool of Onipokia vacant due to gross non-compliance with the chiefs law of Ogun state 2006 and directed the parties to maintain status quo pending the final decision on the matter.

"Whereas, the Ogun state lawyers led by Barr O.A.Lawal from the  Ministry of Justice representing the Governor, Ministry of Local government Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogun State Ministry of Justice, and Ipokia Local Government affirmed to the nullification before the judge, yet the state government went ahead to de-annul the nullification order and eventually presented staff of office and Certificate to Yisa Olaniyan, a non member of Iwaye Dodo Ruling House as substantive King of Ipokia on 12th August, 2020 against all appeals despite our petitions to His Excellency and the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly on the controversy surrounding the Onipokia stool."

The statement said the aggrieved families stated that the  purported installation has now confirmed the actions of Olu Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, alongside his allies: Mr Isiaka  Abolurin and Chief Akeem Adigun and the cohorts who have brazenly continued to boast that they will use all means possible within Government circles and staff of the Ministry of Justice/Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs to install Yisa Olaniyan, a non-member of Iwaye Adodo Ruling House by do or die machination. 

 "This Government action has also confirmed that the Ogun state government under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun has used political sentiment to settle a rather more serious matter which could snowball into a serious crisis and unrest if not wittingly handled.

"Installation of Yisa Olaniyan as the 46th Onipokia in a do or die manner was an illegality capable of breaching the public peace and tranquility which Ipokia is noted for to cause anarchy, disorder, serious crisis, unrest and pandemonium in Ipokialand."

The families noted that, as matured, progressive, reasonable and law abiding citizens of Nigeria, they have resorted to allow peace to reign supreme in Ipokia in spite of all provocations  by the government and Yisa's supporters to wait for the Court's verdict over the matter.  

"We believe in justice and that justice will be done in our favour as it has been done in the cases of Olupoti of Ipoti,Ekiti State after 24years on the throne and Eleruwa of Oyo state after 21years on the throne among several others", the statement said.