People of ObboAiyegunle community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State are now divided over the appointment of a new traditional ruler of the community, Owalobo of Obbo Aiyegunle following the demise of the Oba Faseyi, while the Kwara State government has declined any intervention in the selection process, citing the Chiefs Appointment and Deposition Law.This is just as the stakeholders in the area had urged Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to intervene to prevent the breakup and destruction of ties that joined the community together as one entity.They also called on the state governor to set-up a panel of inquiry to investigate all the allegations in the matter.In a petition entitled, 'Re; Complaint by the Aofin clan of Ilawe Ruling House and Pastor Kayode Afolabi (the Aofin's candidate for the Owalobo Stool) against the purported appointment of Engr. Samuel Adelodun as the Owalobo of Obbo-Aiyegunle-elect,' addressed to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and copied the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ekiti Local Government Traditonal Council, Ekiti Local Government Chairman and Asiwaju of Obbo Kingdom, Chief J.O. Daniel, dated November 15, 2011, by Abiodun Dada & co of Temitope Chambers as their solicitors, they alleged that 'the purported appointment of Engr. Samuel Adelodun as the Owalobo of Obbo-Aiyegunle- elect was not properly done.The clan alleged that Engineer Samuel Adelodun (a former Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment) had withdrawn from the kingship race in a letter dated August 29, 2011 addressed to the Secretary of Ilawe Kingship Committee, Obbo-Aiyegunle and made available to Community News in Ilorin, leaving Pastor Kayode Afolabi (a Commandant with the Federal Road Safety Commission) of Aofin Compound and Barrister Adelodun Abraham of Uloke Compound as finalists sent to Owa-in-council.They further alleged that one Chief Alawe Samuel (a member of Owa-in-council or kingmakers) 'blatantly disregarded other members of the traditional kingmakers, unilaterally sponsored and declared Engineer Samuel Adelodun of Ijimikin Compound as Owalobo-elect contrary to the known traditional practice of the kingmakers of Obbo-Aiyegunleland'.Complaining about the alleged exclusion of a section of traditional kingmakers, they said, 'by the right of tradition and culture, two families of Asero and Okease make up the kingmakers in Obboland so that whenever such an assignment as this case was to be done, same must be jointly done by the aforesaid two families, otherwise, the outcome therefrom remain inconclusive and unacceptable. As such, we have serious objection for Okease family was edged out of the selection exercise.'They, therefore, urged the governor to intervene in preventing the breakup and destruction of ties that joined the community together as one entity.In a reaction to the petition, the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner, for Justice via a letter dated 21 November 2011, signed by A.A. Daib Esq. for the commissioner acknowledged points raised by the solicitor to Aofin clan and Pastor Afolabi, but concluded that, 'it is instructive to note that His Excellency, the executive governor of Kwara State, by virtue of the Chiefs Appointment and Deposition Law, Kwara State, cannot intervene in the selection of chiefs but to approve the recommendation forwarded to him through the due process.'In view of the above, kindly advice your client to channel their complaint through the appropriate channel.
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