From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Scores of residents of Ibese Community in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Wednesday, trooped out to protest what they described as “imposition of illegal monarch” on the ancient town by the state government.
Armed with placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Rotimi Mulero can’t occupy Aboro stool”; ‘On 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration we stand’; ‘Approval of Mulero, an affront on our ancestors’; ‘Ibese says no to imposition’ and ‘Ogun govt dares judiciary plans to install illegality as Oba in Ibese’, the protesters barricaded the Ibese-Ilaro road, chanting anti-establishment songs.
The protest which lasted for over two hours prevented motorists and trucks of a cement company located in the community to pass through.
The state government had on Tuesday announced Prince Rotimi Mulero as the approved monarch to fill the vacant stool of the Ibese kingdom.
Apart from Ibese, the state government also approved Princes Rufai Adeleke Adeyalu, Ademola Eletu, Ogunsola Muyideen Oluseyi Soile, Saka Adelola Matemilola and Lukman Salami as the new Lemo of Ode-Lemo, Onitele of Itele, Olowu of Owu and Ebi of Idena, Ikenne, respectively.
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Speaking on behalf of the Ibese protesters, the youth leader and member of Olokojobi Ruling House,, Akeem Olalekan, said that the town was shocked to learn that Prince Rotimi Mulero, who according to him, was never the candidate presented by the town was approved as the new Aboro of Ibese by the state government.
He explained that during the selection process, the approved monarch was neither chosen through oracle divination nor selected by the kingmakers and other stakeholders in the town.
Olalekan added that there were two court injunctions restraining the state government from approving any person for the vacant stool pending the determination of the case in the State High Court.
He wondered why the state government would approve a monarch who is not a member of the Olokojobi Ruling House, which is the next in line to produce the new Aboro of Ibese.
“This protest is mainly to express our grievances in the choice of the new Aboro of Ibese by the state government. We were surprised and shocked to learn of this development, particularly, when the case is still pending in court. As we speak, there are two court injunctions restraining the state government from taking any action on the vacant stool.
“Besides, the divination of Ifa oracle chose Prince Azeez Adedimeji Idowu as the next monarch. Apart from that, he is qualified as a prince from the male lineage of the ruling house, as contained in the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration of Ibese Kingdom. The person announced by the state government is the wrong person and not a member of the Olokojobi Ruling House. To us, this is not acceptable and we appeal to the state government to rescind its decision and wait for the outcome of the case in court,” Olalekan stated.