By Our Reporters
Indigenes of Idofian, a community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State State had staged a peaceful protest against the alleged nomination of one Jamiu Olarewaju Adedamola Omikunle as the new traditional ruler of the town.
The aggrieved community members had stormed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftain Affairs in Ilorin, the state capital, protesting alleged plans of the Hon. Commissioner in the ministry, Architect Aliyu Mohammed Saifudeen in connivance with some others to impose a new traditional ruler on the town.
The protesters warned the government not to set the community on fire over the plan to install what they described as the “wrong candidate.”
While claiming that Adedamola is neither from the town nor belongs to any of the ruling houses, the protesters demanded that his nomination be reversed by the government and install the right candidate for the vacant stool.
It would be recalled that the stool of Onidofian of Idofian Land became vacant in June 2021 after Late Alhaji Zubair Agboola Oyesoro from Oloyi Ruling House joined his ancestors.
According to a letter of protest and notification of miscarriage of justice and lack of confidence in the process of selection by the Commissioner Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kwara State, Architect Aliyu Mohammed Saifudeen addressed to the Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the petitioner requested a quick intervention for the peaceful co-existence of their community.
In the petition signed by, one of the Kingmakers, Mallam Akolade Ibrahim Abioye, Oloye Aare of Idofian Land alleged that three out of many aspirants aspiring to the stool of Oludofian of Idofian were selected and the Kingmakers notified the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in writting, but to his dismay the Commissioner on the 21st of June, 2022 invited and held meeting with two out of seven Kingmakers, Oloye Odofin, Chief Raheem Ibrahim Olarewaju Odofin and Oloye Balogun, Chief Idrisu Akande Adigun Owolafe.
He alleged further that the rationale behind the action of the Hon. Commissioner is to fence other Kingmakers that are working for the remaining candidates.
“But from all indications the invitation of two Kingmakers out of seven is nothing but bias and injustice against other aspirants and action of the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs also indicate that the Commissioner is working and networking for Jamiu Olarewaju Adedamola Omikunle to the detriment of other aspirants”, he said.
Speaking, the Iya Adini of Idofian, Abibat Ajala said that it was Rasheed Agbalaya that they knew and want by Idofian community as king.
She added that the nomination of Jamiu Olarewaju Adedamola Omikunle was against the norms, customs and traditions of the land.
She therefore called on the state government to do the right thing and reverse the selection of Jamiu Olarewaju Adedamola Omikunle as Onidofian of Idofian, adding that due process should be followed in choosing a king from the right ruling house.
One of the protester Fatai Ayinla said that it is Rasheed Agbalaya that they want as king because it is his turn.
“The person that was brought we have not seen him at all in the town,” he said.
According to him, the current nominee is not from the land and also not from the two ruling houses in the community.
He noted that there are two ruling families in the town; which include the Oloye family and the Agbalaya family, pointing out that the former produced the last monarch and it is now the turn of the Agbalaya family to produce the next Onidofian of Idofian.
In his reaction to the allegations, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Architect Aliyu Mohammed Saifudeen, denied involvement in the crises surrounding the selection process of the new Onidofian of Idofian.
He however appealed to the people to maintain the peace always, insisting that some elements were trying to tarnish his image over the issue.
“One thing I also want to assure us is that since the advent of this administration, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State never melded into who becomes king of any particular town.
But we are working round the clock to ensure that only the best comes out of Idofian township king contest”, the Commissioner said.
