Conspiracy Allegation Dotes Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs over Alabalabi Chieftaincy As A Ruling House Complains to Governor Abiodun

Abeokuta: Sina ODUNTAN

Published, August 26, 2020

 

A RURAL TOWN IN EWEKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA has been thrown into frenzy over Obaship tussle that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs ought to have quelled on arrival, but the Ministry has been alleged to fuel the controversy.

According to a letter dated August 24, 2020 and entitled “The Current Obaship Tussle of Abalabi Town, Ewekoro Local Government” written to the State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, and the Director in the Ministry have been implicated in the Obaship tussle.

Governor Abiodun has been urged not to give approval to the recommendation of the Ministry because the candidate purported to have been recommended by the Olowu, the Paramount Ruler of Owu Kingdom to the Ministry is not from the Aramokala Ruling House, the next in line ruling house to the chieftaincy.

 

The said letter sited by thedispatch states further that the Obaship crisis is now about two years old.

 

A descendant of Aromokala ruling house, Prince Bejamin Oluwapelumi of Abalabi town in Ewekoro local government area who signed the letter disowns Biobaku Bakare Taofeek, the purported successful candidate of the Ministry, as belonging paternally to Gbagura section of Egba land.

 

The Aromokala Ruling House of Abalabi town however said its candidate for the vacant Alabalabi stool of Abalabi town in Ewekoro Local Government of Ogun State in the South Western part of Nigeria is one Prince Babatunde Akinwunmi Badejoko, who was unanimously presented in a meeting held on Sunday September 16, 2018 at No. 2 Adetoro Famuyiwa Street, Ikotun, Lagos.

 

Prince Babatunde Akinwunmi Badejoko, in a letter written by the counsel of Aromokala Ruling House, was again presented on May 21, 2020 to the Ministry for approval after the earlier letter of July 18, 2018.

 

The counsel, Mr. Joseph Tadema of Tademalaw Chamber stated in his letter to the Ministry that his Chamber was acting for the Elders-in-Council of Abalabi Community in Ewekoro Local Government area, saying there was a community meeting of stakeholders on the 2nd of September 2018 where it was decided that it was the turn of the Aromokala Ruling House to present a suitable candidate for the vacant stool. The meeting was presided over by the Balogun of Abalabi.

 

The counsel’s letter further states that the only opposition to the decision was one Taofik Biobaku Bakare Oshunrinde who is a Gbagura man and Loshi of Gbagura.

 

However, Pa Timothy Oyeyemi Badejoko in his disclaimer issued on November 1, 2019 against Taofeek Biobaku Bakare Oshunrinade warns both the government and public that the latter is neither a member of Aramokala Ruling House nor related to the family biologically nor by proxy.

 

“This is to notify the general public and the Ogun State Government that one Taofik Biobaku Bakare Oshunrinade has been parading himself as a member of Aramokala descendant’s family, vis-a-viz Oba of Abalabi.

 

“We the family of Aramokala descendant ruling house and next in succession to the throne of Abalabi Kingdom emphatically dissociate with Taofik Biobaku Bakare Oshunrinade either as biological relation or by proxy.

 

“Anyone that deals with Taofik Biobaku Bakare Oshunrinade in any capacity as Oba of Abalabi or as a member of Aramokala family does that at his/her own risk. Please be warned”, Pa Timothy Oyeyemi Badejoko stated.

 

The Ministry ignores all the lawyer’s and family’s correspondences to give approval to the popular choice of Aramokala Ruling House. 

The Prince Bejamin Oluwapelumi’s letter to Governor Dapo Abiodun states that the Ministry allows itself to be corruptibly influenced, and, consequently, allegedly, dubiously gives approval to a person who’s not a member of the ruling house.

 

“All this had already been known to the Ministry. But because (of) money (that) he gave the Director, Permanent Secretary, and even the Commissioner in the Chieftaincy Ministry, they are shying away from the truth.

 

“We want to also state that due process was not followed in arriving at picking him as our king. We say NO to this, Sir.

 

“To avoid a repeat case of the Ipokia scenario, Sir, Do not install Biobaku Taofeek as the next Oba of Abalabi.

 

“Let us together prevent impending unrest and rancour brewing in Abalabi if he (Biobaku Taofeek) is finally install(ed),” Prince Benjamin Oluwapelumi with GSM No. 08037251978 implored the governor.

 

Aramokala Ruling House, according to their several correspondences, insists that the next in succession to the throne of Abalabi Kingdom is Aramokala family.

 

The family, speaking through the family head, Pa Timothy Oyeyemi Badejoko, who lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun for his dexterous leadership, is also registered its displeasure on the conspiracy and nepotism exhibited by the Ministry to making efforts to deprive them of its right to the throne.

 

The family in the same vein enjoins the Commissioner for Local and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuwape to steer clear of any actions or steps that could bungle the smooth running of the Abiodun’s Administration, because according to them, due process was not followed in his approval of the Obaship chieftaincy.

All efforts to elicit response from the Ministry proved abortive as calls to the Commissioner’s GSM lines were not answered and text messages were not replied.

Visits to Taofik Biobaku Bakare Oshunrinade’s abode for his response was not fruitful as our reporter was always turned away. However, thedispatch would continue to make efforts to bring his response on the allegation.