Protest Rocks Osun Govt Secretariat Over Planned Imposition Of Monarch

Posted by Samuel on Fri 22nd Sep, 2023 - tori.ng

The protesters marched to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs with placards bearing inscriptions such as: “Don’t impose Moronfolu Ruling House on Us’, ‘Olufon stool is not for sale’, ‘Don’t impose on us’, ‘Governor Adeleke, allow us to decide our king’, and others.

Osun protest

Yesterday, residents of Ifon community, located at the heart of Orolu Local Government in Osun State, converged on the State Secretariat in Abere to voice their opposition to the proposed imposition of a monarch upon their community.

They alleged that the government and some of its officials were planning to use outlawed Chieftaincy Declarations to appoint a new king, contrary to 1979 Declarations that had been used to select kings in the past.

Addressing the protesters, Prince Adegboyega Oyedeji from Odunolu Ruling House said: “The government acted on a declaration that had been outlawed by Justice Olowoofeku in suit number HOS/127/88, which the judgment never appealed till today.

“We are here to draw the attention of the peace-loving governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke and other stakeholders to the evil being perpetrated by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter through the collaboration of the permanent secretary and some officials from the Ministry of Justice because the last administration of ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola wrote us (Odunolu) to produce the next king based on the 1979 Chieftaincy Declaration.

“Unfortunately, the Moronfolu Ruling House challenged it in court that we should use the outlawed declaration and the matter is in court till now. Amid the court tussle, Osun State Government has written the same ruling house that challenged us in court. Government should allow court to decide before acting.”

Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, reacting to the protest, said: “The letter issued was based on the information that they have settled out of court, but they should file a formal petition and I am sure they will get justice.”