The Ogun State government has clarified four communities where the Ondo State government has approved the installation of traditional rulers are not in Ondo State, but in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
This was contained in a press statement, signed by the Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abdulwaheed Odusile and made available to the media, in reaction to a press statement signed by the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye, purportedly approving the installation of traditional rulers in four communities domiciled in Ogun State.
Odusile added that the four communities, Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbengben, Araromi Seaside, are domiciled in Ogun State and that only the Ogun State government reserves the right and privilege to install traditional rulers in the four communities.
The Ogun State government also called the attention of the National Boundary Commission to the press statement issued by the Ondo State government planning to install traditional rulers in the affected communities.
Odusile added that relevant documents, dating back to the colonial days, and affirmed by relevant Federal Government agencies attesting to the fact that the affected communities are in Ogun State and that only Ogun State is the only authority vested with the powers to install traditional rulers in the affected communities.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of the Ogun State government is drawn to a recent press statement by the Ondo State government, signed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye, purportedly approving the installation of traditional rulers in Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbengben, and Araromi Seaside communities in the Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
“The press statement has expectedly been generating concern within these peace-loving communities in Ogun State.
“The Ogun State government wishes to state categorically as follows, that: Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi Seaside communities are bonafide communities recognized by law as situated in Ogun State; official legal documents dating back to the colonial era and re-affirmed by relevant agencies of the Federal Government attest to this fact; the Ogun State government is the only authority that can confer and recognize any chieftaincy title(s) in the communities mentioned above, being legally part of Ogun State; and the attention of the National Boundary Commission is called to the press statement issued by the Ondo State government; and the commission is hereby urged to take note and act accordingly in line with extant laws and relevant documents.
“The Ogun State government hereby calls on all indigenes and residents of Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbegben and Araromi Seaside communities in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state to continue to go about their businesses peacefully and lawfully as the issue is being handled at the highest level of government in Ogun and Ondo states respectively.
“We equally call on the law enforcement agencies to take note and act accordingly to prevent any breakdown of law and order.”
