CHSR Expresses Concern Over Council Chairman’s Partisanship In Kingship Selection In Idarika Community

P.M.EXPRESS reports as was contained in a press release signed by the president of the group, Comrade Alex Omotehinse.

CHSR stated that the source of worry is the subterranean maneuvers of the Council Chairman, Mr. Segun Ogunleye, coupled with his partisanship in the selection process instead of allowing the king makers to do justice to the matter according to the established ethics as enshrined in the State Chieftaincy Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The group explained that Mr. Ogunleye publicly proclaimed and communicated via a letter to IGUN Ruling House and the king makers concerned but went behind to do other things to sabotage the process.

It stated that the late Akufon of Idarika  joined its ancestors on 28th January 2021, and according to Idarika Chieftaincy Law under Section 4(2) of Customary Court declaration, Ikenne Local Government wrote a letter on January, 2022 to IGUN Ruling House as the next in-line ruling house to bring their preferred choice for the stool of AKUFON, in which they reciprocated by nominating Prince Saheed Abayomi. However, he died before being summoned for acceptability of the stool.

“The Local Government wrote another letter dated 8th April, 2024 requesting IGUN Ruling House to re-nominate one of their sons for the stool. The letter was immediately responded to by Prince Moshood Onakoya (Secretary of the ruling house) and signed by Pa Fasasi Ogunmuyiwa, the head of Igundaniyan ruling house dated 17th April, 2024 stating that the Local Government should give them sometime to be able to meet and resolve on who the family will send-forth and also used the medium to disclaim one Mr. Kazeem Oseni claiming to be secretary of Igundaniyan ruling house as an impostor.”

“To our dismay the Local Government responded back the following day 18th April, 2024 that the family should pick two working days for the kingship selection process in which they will observe the process of the selection. (Why the rush by the council if not partisanship? Is that how efficient the Local Government can be in its administrative responsibility to the plight of the people?)

“The Local Government’s delegation marched into Idarika community as warlords on a weekend (Saturday) two days after the correspondence to IGUN Ruling House without informing the secretary or any member of the ruling house that they were coming for Kingship selection exercise with the sole aim of imposing one Mr. Shomade Olu Gbenga, who is neither a family member nor relative of Igundaniyan Ruling House of Idarika.”

“We are deeply worried that the Local Government’s delegation went to Idarika community with retinue of Nigeria Police operatives to intimidate, harass and prevent some kingmakers led by Lisa of Idarika, Chief Nurudeen Tomori Jamiu, the head of the king makers, from entering the Kingship selection venue. They also deprived the IGUN Ruling House from nominating their choice candidate for the Akufon stool.”

“The Council Chairman’s delegation usurped the constituted authority of the Chieftaincy Act, ethics and proceedings by taking over the selection process instead of being an observer so as not to be seen as being biased in its recommendation to the appropriate quarters of the State Government saddled with the responsibility for onward transmission to the office of the State Governor.”

“Our Organization’s position is clearly in defense of the constitutional rights of citizens in a democratic dispensation as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

Our Demands:

1. A call for a diligent investigation by the appropriate authorities in order to confirm the allegation and complaints of IGUN ruling house about the imposition of a non-family member (Mr. Shomade Olugbenga) by the Executive Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Mr. Segun Ogunleye.

2. A thorough investigation in revealing if truly Mr. Shomade Olugbenga did not belong to any of the three ruling houses in Idarika proclaimed by Chieftaincy law of Idarika community.

3. The Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs should henceforth stall the process of installation until all necessary issues are address and resolve.

4. The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly should as a matter of urgency and importance direct and mandate the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to intervene by inviting all the parties concerns.

5. The Attorney General should immediately advice all relevant government agencies to desist from any actions/in-actions that can drag the State Government reputation to a disrepute.

6. We call on Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Executive Governor of the State, as a son of Ikenne Kingdom and Father to all, to quickly intervene in other to avert any unprecedented anarchy in Idarika community of Ikenne Local Government area of the state.