Youths of the town, under the aegis of Eruwa Youth Movement (EYM), have made an appeal to the governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, to help expedite action on the selection process of a new traditional ruler.
Four years after the seat of Eleruwa of Eruwa has been declared vacant following a Supreme Court verdict that ordered the sack of Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola after spending 21 years on the throne,
The youths, in a letter addressed to the governor, signed by their representatives and delivered at the governor’s office, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, noted that, “There is no doubt that your Excellency is not unaware of the situation of the traditional institution in Eruwa vis-a-vis the protracted court case that has lasted for more than two decades which has put Eruwa on interregnum since about two years ago following the supreme court pronouncement.
“It is believed that by an elementary knowledge of government as a subject in school, the Supreme Court is the highest decision making court in the hierarchy of the Nigerian judiciary system and that its pronouncement is final.
“It is also our belief that all disputes that characterised the Eleruwa stool must have been laid to rest by the Supreme Court judgment of Friday, 24th November 2019. Therefore, Eruwa, as a historic town and as prominent as it is among the comity of towns in Oyo State, deserves a traditional ruler, considering the saying which goes thus: “Ilu kii wa, ki o ma ni olori” (meaning, a town cannot exist in the absence of a ruler).
Also, the role of a traditional ruler in attaining peace and prosperity is imperative to the development of any community.
“We, the entire members of the youth movement, on behalf of the whole populace of Eruwa Land, appeal to your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Mr Oluseyi Makinde, the people’s governor, the law abiding governor, to rescue Eruwa land from this stalemate.
We hereby appeal to Your Excellency to use your good office to commence in earnest the process that will accelerate the appointment and coronation of the new Eleruwa of Eruwa Land in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment of Friday, 29th of November 2019 without further delay to avert another possible litigation.
“More importantly, your Excellency is hereby informed that Eruwa people have waited patiently for the commencement of the process for the selection of the new Eleruwa and would no longer tolerate any intrigues from any quarter capable of delaying or scuttling the process of appointing the new Eleruwa of Eruwa.
“While we remain calm, law-abiding, and not ready to take laws into our hands on this matter, we hope that this appeal shall be given accelerated response and prompt action within the possible shortest space of time.”
Recall that Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola, who an Oyo State High Court had earlier dethroned on January 26, 2011, had approached the appellate court for an order to discard the verdict.
However, giving the verdict on the matter in 2011, Justice Ladipo Abimbola of the appellate court affirmed that the processes that brought Adegbola to the throne were irregular. Hence, he declared them null and void; thereby ordering that Oba Adegbola should vacate the seat.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, the monarch filed an appeal and approached the Supreme Court, which ended the legal tussle on November 29, 2019.
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