vIlaje have no problem with Mimiko - Amapetu

The Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom,Oba Lawrence Omowole, has said that the people of the oil-rich Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have no axe to grind with the present administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko on its performance less than three years in office.Oba Omowole, a former Chairman of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs, said this in his palace at Ode Mahin while commenting on developments in the area.According to him, 'the people of Ilaje have no problem with this government. If the government is not doing well, I am the first to accuse it because there is no government I cannot talk to.'Oba Omowole also said that a publication by a group, Ilaje Development Forum (IDF), alleging neglect by successive administrations in all tiers of government in the country did not reflect the common position of the people of Ilaje Local Government.The Amapetu of Mahin said those behind the publication did not have the mandate of the traditional rulers and the people of area.Ilaje Development Forum (IDF) had in some publications accused successive governments in the state of denying Ilaje Local Government as the only oil-producing council in the state of its statutory benefits.The traditional ruler queried the motive and authority of those behind the publication.While expressing dissatisfaction over the venue of the programme, the traditional ruler said the forum did not consult the obas in Ilaje Local Government and that the conveners of the forum introduced politics into it.He insisted that the sensitive nature of the issue required the collective inputs of the people in the area, particularly the traditional rulers, adding that such an issue should be devoid of any political interest.'I am the oldest oba on throne and in age in Ilaje Local Government. I am not just an oba of a town but a paramount ruler of a kingdom that comprises of several towns and villages in this local government. All the obas in Ilaje are men of honour, integrity and high repute.'Neither the Olugbo of Ugbo nor the Amapetu was informed of the meeting from where the decision was said to have been arrived at. There are questions on the credibility of the conveners to convey a meeting and speak for Ilaje. The forum did not consult any oba and or opinion leader in all the kingdoms in this local government.'Why did the Forum choose Lagos as the venue of the meeting where such agreement was reached' Is Lagos, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area''Oba Omowole, while advising the people of the local government to be peace-loving, said the monarchs in the local government would soon meet to deliberate on matters affecting the area and how best to address challenges facing the area.
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