From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja

To prevent a breakdown of law and order, the Ilajo royal family of Kabba has called on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to allow the full determination of the Obaro chieftaincy suit pending in court before proceeding to build another palace in the town

The Ilajo royal, at a press briefing held on Tuesday at the Aoffin palace, Kabba , said the palace has been in existence for over 200 years and has housed more than 15 different Obaros; he questioned why a new palace will be built at this point in time when litigation over the Obaro tussle is still pending in court

Addressing reporters, the spokesman of the family and Secretary, Ilajo Planning Committee, High Chief Peter Oloba, said the family was surprised when the current Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyyi, on the occasion of the Kabba cultural day celebration said there is no existing palace in the town saying it was a calculated attempt to distort the historical facts of the ancient town.

The family, while conducting reporters around the tombs of over 15 Obaros who reigned, died and were buried within the palace and showing their paraphernalia of office, said it was an aberration to say Kabba has no palace even when the first Governor- general of Nigeria, Lord Fredrick Lugard and some past Nigerian leaders like General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and vice president Yemi Osibanjob had visited the palace at different times.

According to the spokesman of the family: “We see this distortion as a deliberate act of causing confusion and as usual, a way of distorting the historical facts and age-long tradition and culture of Oweland by insinuating that there is no palace in Kabba.

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“We hereby set the records straight, and wish to state categorically without equivocation, that Kabba Town has always had a palace, significant paraphernalia of Royalty and the centre point of Owe culture and tradition. And this is the palace of Obaros of Kabba,” he added

While stating the names and dates of some of the Obaros that reigned, died and were buried in and around the palace, he mentioned Obaro Baba Mokelu, (1870), Obaro Baba Ajinuhi, (1870), Obaro Baba Gbayero Ajibohokun (1923), Obaro Atikekerejolu Oluyori,(1928) and Obaro Obamudi Olu Owe Arokoyo, (1932).

Others, he said are, Obaro Obafakun Olobayo Ero1, (1936),Obaro Olle Akikan Ajibohokun, (1942),
Obaro Ologbonyo Arokoyo, (1957)and Obaro Michael F.S. Olobayo, Ero2, (2016 )

Continuing, he said: “We, therefore, believe that the Kogi State Government should not get involved in an issue that is not unconnected with the matter in Courts of the land and as such stay action on anything that concerns this sensitive matter.

“Finally, we of Ilajo the Royal Family of Kabba, Oweland are praying the Kogi State Government to allow for the full determination of the subsisting court case before a decision regarding the palace is made.

“This plan, if implemented now, is capable of generating avoidable tension and can therefore put law and order into jeopardy,” he added