The coronation is billed to hold on Tuesday (today). Arrangements were said to have been concluded for the governor to crown Johnson Oyeyiola as the Alepata.
The traditional ruler, in a letter sent to the governor, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent on Monday in Ibadan objected to the planned coronation.
He said the coronation must be stopped to avoid further crisis in the town, especially in the Alepata ruling house of Igboho.
He hinged his position on the fact that a court of competent jurisdiction had since 2003 removed Alepata as Oba.
Alaafin also cited a letter from the Ministry of Local Government, signed by the then Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ademola Oyadeyi, directing the Oorelope Local Government to stop recognising the monarch as an Oba and to stop paying any stipends to him in line with the ruling of the law court.
Oba Lamidi said, “When I heard that Your Excellency is preparing to elevate the same Alepata, I have to call your attention to some moral and constitutional burden which such an action portends should you be hell bent to go ahead with the exercise.
“My resolve to write this letter is premised on one side, on your own words to me that it is not in your character to disobey court rulings. This is an opportunity for you to put into practice that postulation.
“In 2003, while you were the deputy governor of Oyo State, and by responsibility, put in charge of chieftaincies among other duties assigned to you by your former boss, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, the issue of Alepata Chieftaincy must have come to your table.
“In a letter dated 10th September, 2003, ref. GB141/13/4 Vol. 11/602, signed by Ademola Oyadeyi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, the Honourable Commissioner had approved the stoppage of stipends to Oba Johnson Olayide Oyeyiola, the Alepata of Igboho.
“The letter also directed that the said Oba Olayide Oyeyiola should stop parading himself as the Alepata of Igboho because a court of competent jurisdiction had set aside his appointment,” the letter reads.
It also reads, “The matter had then returned to court and in Suit No. HSK/11/2003 and in his ruling of 2nd February 2007, Justice M.O Yusuff, had maintained that Johnson Olayide Oyeyiola could not parade himself as an Oba, urging the family to begin afresh the process of nominating a candidate to the vacant stool.
“And again, when attempts were made to promote some Obas across the state by the Council of Obas and Chiefs in 2008, and the Alepata chieftaincy was listed among those to be considered, counsel to the plaintiff in the Alepata chieftaincy, Barrister Bola Rasaq Gold, had written a letter to me as the Permanent Chairman of the Council that while the family would not oppose the promotion of Alepata Chieftaincy, it would amount to contempt of the court to confer the said promotion on Johnson Olayide Oyeyiola who a court of competent jurisdiction had removed as an oba as at the time the exercise was to be carried out.”
The Alaafin said the Alepata chieftaincy was a creation of the Alaafin who also gives consent to whosoever would be appointed, adding that he was at a loss as to why the governor would take it upon himself to crown an oba, who is not a paramount ruler as provided for in the Chiefs Law of Oyo state.
The monarch said the protection of Johnson Oyeyiola by the governor since 2007 from vacating the stool had already created bad blood in the ruling house, saying to promote the same man would be a direct slap on the judiciary.
But the governor, through his spokesman, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, replied the Alaafin, saying his position was wrong.
Oyelade, “With due respect to the Alaafin of Oyo, the statement credited to him accusing the state government of contravening the law over the crowning of the Alepata of Igboho is wrong.
“The process that the Oyo State Traditional Council would recommend for the approval of the state executive council and that was what happened in this case.
“Thus, a dozen recommendation was made for traditional rulers across the state to wear beaded crown and this was accented to by the state exco.
“It is really a local affair whenever individual council decides to effect such ceremony.”
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch
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