Residents of the Araromi community of Akure in the Akure North local government area of Ondo state have called for urgent intervention of the state government and security agencies to nip the seeming crisis brewing with two people laying claims to the traditional stool of the community.
The Counsel to the Regent and the community, a human rights organisation, Active Success and Empowerment Initiative (ASEI) said one of the claimants to the stool, Jenyo Omotayo, is responsible of public disturbance and unlawful arrest.
The National President of ASEI, Dr Adewumi Babalola, stated that Omotayo has been causing public disturbance, claiming to be Olu of Araromi, despite his proposed installation being suspended by the state government.
Babalola who sought the intervention of the state government and security agencies in the state to call Omotayo to order, also said that the activities of Omotayo have been causing fear and apprehension among the residents of the community.
But while reacting, Omotayo said despite being picked and installed as the Olu of Araromi, he had decided to stay in action in order to avoid contempt of court but stated that the other aspirant to the stool has been parading himself as the community head.
He accused some elements within the community of imposing his opponent on the community despite the letter from the state government on the suspension of chieftaincy activities until the determination of the suit in the court.
He said “I cannot be disturbing the peace of the community I want to govern. Peace is synonymous with development and what I am interested in is the development of this town and not the crisis some people are planning to instigate.
“I have business and family in the community, and how will I disrupt the peace of my community. All these fabricated lies are to smear my image because of this stool but let’s await the decision of the law court.”
However, ASEI maintained that the activities of the Omotayo who had been parading himself had been a threat to the peace and security of the community, and wondered why some person would parade himself as the Olu of Araromi while the state government had stopped his inauguration.
Babalola in the statement noted that the state government has not accorded such honour to Omotayo to direct the affairs of the agrarian community, alleging that the self-imposed traditional head embarked on disruption of the community peace for pecuniary reasons
He, however, called on the state government and security agencies in the state to swing into action, curbing the activities of the self-imposed community head.
He said “ASEI therefore called on the Ondo state government and security agencies to immediately launch an investigation into the matter with a view to restoring normalcy to Araromi community.
“This letter becomes necessary in order to prevent a breach of the peace which could throw the community into violence and to bring the development to the notice of the state government
“We hereby appeal to your esteemed office to intervene by investigating the matter and take immediate action to restore peace in Araromi Community of Akure North Local Government Council Area.”
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