Ogun monarch sends SOS to Amosun, IGP over alleged impending crisis

Unless the police authorities and the Ogun State Government intervene, there may be a breakdown of law and order in Ojoduland of Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

This was the submission of Olojodu of Ojoduland, Oba Sikiru Adelani Obatula, while addressing journalists, recently. In a bid to forestall the impending calamity, the monarch has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase and Governor Ibikunle Amosun to intervene and prevail on one his subjects, whom he accused of planning disturbance in his community.

In a press statement made available to the Daily Times, Oba Obatula alleged that one Oba Salisu Hassan Abiodun, had been parading himself as an Oba in the community and, thereby, allegedly fomenting trouble and causing disaffection among people of the community. Apparently to make bold his threat, Oba Obatula alleged that the said Abiodun was already planning an anniversary of his ‘reign’, which he had, allegedly, slated for June 3.

The statement read in part: “For sometime now, Salisu Hassan Yusuf Abiodun has been fomenting trouble in the community. He has been shooting and forcing people to believe that he is an Oba, and onJune 3, 2016, he is planning to do an anniversary and on that occasion, he is planning to install some innocent and ignorant Nigerians with illegal chieftaincy titles.

“If anybody installs Salisu with chieftaincy title somewhere, he has the right to remain as a chief wherever he lives not to foment trouble. So, I appeal to the IGP, Ogun State Commissioner of Police and the Governor Amosun to intervene and stop him before he forces my youths into bloodshed,” he appealed.

Oba Obtula, who claimed he was installed as Oba of Ojoduland by the Olofin of Isheri, Olofin Oba Nurudeen Adekanbi, and by Ogun government in 2010, continued, “My Obaship was gazetted in December 9, 2010. I am an Oba with all required documents and gazettes, but somebody that has no certificate, no gazette, impersonating here and there, people are watching and nothing is done,” Obatula lamented.

When contacted, in his palace at Ojodu, Oba Salisu Abiodun says, “I was installed as Oba by Oba (Dr.) Olusanya Adegboyega Dosumnu (Amororo 11), the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, on Friday, March 31, 2006.

“I was the first Baale of the area for sixteen years before I was elevated to the Obaship by the Egba Council in Ogun State, which the Olowu of Owu installed me as Oba. Obatula served me when I was a Baale.

“Although, the Ogun State government installed him Oba with a gazette but events have taken over all that. Obatula is trying to stop my anniversary coming up on June3, 2016whereas I did not stop his anniversary and 75th birthday celebration held recently” he stated.

But a Director in Chieftaincy Affairs, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government, Mr. J.O. Olatoye, said, “Salisu Hassan Yusuf Abiodun is not among the legally recognised Oba in Ogun State. Secondly, he is also not a gazetted traditional ruler. Thirdly, the authentic traditional ruler in Ojodu is Oba Sikiru Alabi Adelani Obatula, Olu of Ojodu in Ifo Local Government Area. Lastly, the unnecessary noise of leadership trouble in the area is just the theory of Salisu Hassan, who is parading himself, illegally, as an Oba in Ojodu, whereas there is a government approved Oba in the area”, he concluded.