Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
The Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has charged Ondo State Obas (monarchs) to limit their influence and activities to their jurisdictions and not trespass into other peoples’ domains.
The governor gave the charge during the official presentation of Instrument of Appointment and Staff of Office to Oba Michael Olorunfemi Dada, the Oliye of Iye in Akoko North West Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement made available to Stonix News by Head, Publicity and Media Relations, Mrs Abooluwa Famakinwa, Arakunrin Akeredolu warned that the idea of extending their activities and influence beyond their domains would not be tolerated.
He added that the government would not trade or do anything that would jeopardise peace in the different communities, hence, it has maintained neutrality in the selection of Obas.
This, responsibility in his words, has been left absolutely in the hands of the people, saying it will ensure peace which is an essential ingredient for development.
The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Segun Odusanya, appealed to the Obas to lend the government a helping hand in securing lives and properties of their people as no government can do it alone.
He congratulated Iye Akoko and the new monarch for filling up the stool after 20 years of interregnum.
While soliciting the cooperation and loyality of the people for the monarch, the governor urged him to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship and be a father to all, in order to bring the much desired development to Iye.
In his remark, the Permanent Secretary and Acting Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Segun Odusanya, who was represented by the Director Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs Kemi Akinyemi, appreciated the governor for fulfilling his promise of installing traditional rulers in communities with vacant stools as long as such communities put aside acrimony and individual interests.
He urged communities with vacant stools to come together, put aside individual interest and take advantage of the political will to fill their stools.
In his response, the new Oniye of Iye Akoko, Oba Micheal Olorunfemi Dada, thanked God and everyone who made his emergence and the filling of the stool possible after litigations and tussle that lasted 20 years.
While saying that the long tussle and period of interregnum brought lots of underdevelopment to Iye, the monarch called on sons and daughters of Iye that were dispersed as a result of the discord, to come back home and join hands with him to develop the kingdom.
He appealed to the government to extend its giant strides of development and dividends of good governance to the community.
Earlier in his welcome Address, the Akoko North-West Local Government Area, Elder Ayodele Akande appreciated the government for filling four vacant stools in the local government in about six months, while appealing for others to be filled.
Elder Akande revealed that the local government has the highest number of Obas in the state and the largest lingering chieftaincy tussles laced with litigations.
He, however, promised to set up a Mediation and Reconciliation Committee comprising some revered traditional rulers and eminent citizens to resolve the conflict so as to guarantee peace.
He promised to co-operate with the state government and to do all that is within his power to secure lives and properties of his people as well as continually ensure that there is peace in every community in the local government area, so as to attract development.