Olajide Osoba, Abeokuta
The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo has refuted the claim by the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege that the monarch has imposed Obas and baales on the people of Aworiland saying that it is a deliberate falsity and misinformation.
The paramount ruler stated this on Friday at a press conference held in his palace.
Representing the Monarch, High Chief Lai Labode, Bairoyin of Egbaland said Alake and the good people of Egbaland are worried about the deliberate falsity and misinformation to the press by the Olota in Council tagged ‘the issue of imposition of Obas in Aworiland’.
He said, the incumbent Alake, or his predecessor had never and would never install, impose or induce Obas, Baales or Chiefs on any community or people outside Egbaland
”We wish to categorically reaffirm that the incumbent Alake, or his predecessor had never and would never install, impose or induce Obas, Baales or Chiefs on any community or people outside Egbaland”
”The issue contained in the press release (Olota in Council statement) call for more education and enlightenment on who had traditional authority on the villages in the peninsula referred to as Gbelefa”
It would be recalled that the Olota in Council through Seriki of Ota, High Chief Olarenwaju Bashorun had earlier accused Alake of Egbaland and Olowu of Owu Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu of an alleged plot to impose traditional rulers on them, adding that the act was against the culture of the land.
He said the Olota of Ota is the only prescribed traditional authority who has the sole right to install traditional leaders in Awori land not the Alake nor Olowu.
“The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Micheal Adedotun Gbadebo, the Egba Traditional Council, the good people, and residents of Egbaland are worried about the deliberate falsity and misinformation to cause disaffection among the peace-loving people of Egbaland and their neighbours.
“We wish to categorically reaffirm that the incumbent Alake, or his predecessor had never and would never install, impose or induce Obas, Baales or Chiefs on any community or people outside Egbaland”
“Ota historically, administratively and through right of conquest of 1841 falls under Egba administration as part of Egbaland and the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege, is currently an active member of the Egba Traditional Council.
“His membership of the constituted forum is a formal and informal avenue to discuss any issues concerning Awori people, who have been living and interacting peacefully with Egba, Yewa, Egun and other Yoruba sub-ethnics in all parts of egbaland for a long time.
“The so-called spokesman for the Olota-in-Council misdirected himself when he said that Sango, Atan, Ijoko, Abule-Lemomu, Oke-Ore, and Adekoyeni, among others, were not in Egbaland.
“All, without exception, the court’s decision on all issues brought against Alake’s position in all Egba physical and geographical areas, not only reconfirmed the legal and the traditional jurisdiction of Egbaland”
“If Olota, (Obalanlege) doesn’t appreciate the authority of the Alake who gave his consent within few hours, when his selection by the Olota kingmaker’s letter arrived the Ake palace and the Alake forwarded it to the state government the same day.
“We call on the Ogun state commissioner of police to intervene in the excesses and one-sided activities of the police instigated harassments of the Egba indigenes in the area”.
