By: Ade Adeleke
There is a palpable apprehension in Ore community, the headquarters of Odigbo local government area of ondo state over the refusal of government to officially appoint a Regent for the town two months after the demise of Olore of Ore, Oba Johnson Olatomide.
The youths of the town came together to register their displeasure over continuous delay by government in announcing the Lisa of Ore, High Chief David Ijiniga as the Ore Regent as contained in the chieftaincy declaration of the community.
Addressing newsmen in Akure, the Ondo state capital today, the aggrieved youths under the umbrella of the Ore Indigenous Youth, accused the executive Chairman of the council area, Mrs Margaret Tale Akinsuroju of allegedly frustrating the appointment of High Chief Ijiniga as the Regent for undue reasons.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, Prince Adeyemi Adebayo appealed to the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to urgently intervene and warned Mrs Akinsuroju against imposing a stranger or unrecognized chief on the community in the interest of peace and tranquility.
Adebayo, a son of the first crowned Olore of Ore, said the old age of the Lisa should not make the Odigbo local government Chairman to subvert Ore tradition and culture.
Adebayo said, About two months back our illustrious king joined his ancestors and this necessitates the present activity. Ever since his demise we have expected the government to do the needful by approving a Regent in line with the extant chieftaincy laws of Ondo State but all we have been seeing is vacillating on the part of government. It’s a known fact that there should be no vacuum in government but Ore has been left without a captain to direct its ship.
“The immediate past caretaker Chairman of Odigbo Local Government before leaving office and in conjunction with the Odigbo Local Governmet council of Obas had made recommendations to the State Government for approval to fill in the Regency stool pending the installation of a new king.
“But the incumbent Chairperson, Mrs Tale Akinsuroju has been playing politics with the legally recognised Regent in person of High Chief David Ijiniga, who happens to be the next in rank to the departed Oba as the Lisa of Ore Kingdom being the traditional norm in this part of the world.
“This is the man we all know and is acceptable to all Ore people as the right person to fill the post.
“We are therefore using this medium to appeal to His Excellency, Arakunrin Odunayo Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN to intervene and compel the Chairperson of the Local Government to release the approval for the Regent without delay as we are a peace loving people but will not ALLOW her to foist on Ore anyone not recognised by law and not acceptable to the community.
“We reiterate our commitment to the approval and recognition of High Chief David Ijiniga, the Lisa of Ore Kingdom and the duly recognised one by all legal instruments of the extant chieftaincy Law of Ondo State. We also want to state here that we will resist any stooge foist upon Ore by the incumbent Chairperson of Odigbo Local Government.
“We trust Mr. Governor as a very brilliant and well versed lawyer in matters of law to address this issue before it degenerates into something else.
“we wish to congratulate His Excellency, Mr. Governor, Arakunrin Odunayo Rotimi Akeredolu for his progressive effort at developing Ondo State. We thank Mr. Governor for the various projects executed at Ore, of particular record is the overhead bridge which has brought to an end the incessant accident and death of the people of Ore.
“We appreciate his efforts and pray that the good Lord will bring him victory at the election.
“However, at a time like this our state needs peace and prosperity especially that we are a few days away from the all-important election in in determining the fate of Ondo state in the next four years.