Crisis has hit Saki in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, no thanks to the installation of a successor to the late Bagii of the town, Murtala Oladepo.
To some stakeholders in the town, the choice of Kasali Rashidi to succeed Oladepo is an imposition which will be resisted.
Leading the protest are members of three ruling houses – Soledolu, Ladubu and Kujenya.
In fact, they have told Governor Abiola Ajimobi not to approve Rashidi’s choice to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
The protesters revealed, on Thursday, that “at a meeting held on 17th October, 2015, we critically considered the purported selection of Kasali Rashidi as the Bagii-elect at the palace of Apeki of Oke-Odo and resolved to reject the so-called selection or election for the following reasons:
“Kasali Rashidi is not known to majority of members of Bagii ruling houses as he has never identified himself with us. We saw him for the first time after the demise of Bagii Murtala Oladepo. He is, therefore, a total stranger to the culture and tradition of Bagii stool”.
According to the statement signed by the representatives of the three ruling houses which include: Prince Sunday Jolasun (Ladubu ruling house), Prince Alhaji Raimi Olabode (Kujenya ruling house) and Prince Mathew Olawuwo Adesola, they noted that “Kasali Rashidi is still an officer in Oyo State Civil Service who has neither resigned nor retired from service. The Bagii stool is a traditional institution that cannot be occupied on a part-time basis.
“The purported selection in the palace of Apeki of Oke-Odo was at variance with the traditional process as the major Saki kingmakers such as Bajoka, Bamobi, Aganmu, Iyalode, Bale Sepeteri and others were not carried along.
“The activities of the authority of Saki-West local government on the issue was shrouded in secrecy as the families and other contestants were shut out of the process.
“The traditional authority to the Apoloye family to perform the necessary chieftaincy rites can only be given by the Saki kingmakers and not the Apeki. Because of these fundamental issues, the three ruling houses, hereby, reject the selection of Kasali Rashidi as the Bagii-elect”.
But Rashidi’s spokesman, Mr. Remi Adelakun, revealed that there was a meeting at the palace of Apeki where eight kingmakers took the decision, disclosing that Rashidi got eight votes while the second aspirant to the throne scored zero.
“So, it was an open thing. I wonder why they are now kicking against the choice of Kasali. After the election of Kasali, the loser immediately prostrated for him to show he had accepted defeat”, the spokesperson said.
