Another round of crisis on Wednesday broke out in Ilaje local government, Ondo State over the deposition of three lesser monarchs by the Amapetu of Mahin, Oba Lawrence Omowole.
By tradition, Oba Omowole is the paramount ruler of Mahin kingdom and has the authority over the lesser chiefs in his domain.
But the affected lesser monarchs said the monarch has no right to depose them and he has acted illegally.
Omowole sacked the three traditional monarchs for acting contrary against their traditional oath of office.
The three included Juwon Semudara, the Oloja of Kofawe, Charles Temetan, Baale of Lerenren and Chief Estrome Agbeni who was also relieved as the Oloja of Ago- Agbeni community were accused of acting contrary to the terns of their appointment.Speaking on behalf of the Amapetu of Mahin, the Yasere of Mahinland, who is the Prime minister of the kingdom, Chief Godwin Ola Balogun stated that the three traditional chiefs engaged themselves in selling lands within their jurisdiction and forcibly ejecting people from their land.
The kingdom Prime minister also listed among other offences to include insubordination to the constituted authority within the kingdom, disobedience to the paramount ruler of the kingdom and their refusal to attend meetings of the chiefs to which they were duly invited.
He explained that the actions of the three traditional chiefs affected the kingdom negatively, saying it has caused the people of the land to relocate to other areas which has greatly affected the development of Mahin kingdom.
His words: “Your act and those of some of your agents have forced many people out of their lands, relocating to other places thereby retarding the growth and physical development and consist using threat to the peaceful co- existence at Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje local government.
“Your acts of disrespect and insubordination to constituted authorities are inimical to and inconsistent with the progress and development of your areas being part of Mahin land.”
The chiefs were also informed of their removal in a letter dated 15th July and signed by the Mahin monarch, Oba Omowole declaring their certificates of appointment and other instruments in their care as void ordering them to stop parading themselves as the chiefs of Mahin land.
The monarch in the letter stated that ” all transactions entered into by you including purported sales of land in your respective areas or anywhere around the areas are herby declared void and revoked” .
Oba Omowole stated that the action becomes imperative to put an end to autocratic rule in the affected communities, to restore peace within the land and to sanitize the communities within Mahin kingdom in general saying the three chiefs have failed in their responsibility in developing the communities by abrogating powers to themselves.
The monarch explained that the three chiefs were appointed in order to help him in administering their areas which fall and belong to Mahin kingdom but said the chiefs have taken power into their hands.
However, the Prime Minister of the land, informed that copies of the letters have been forwarded to constituted authorities which include the Olu of Igbokoda, the Odede of Igboegunrin, the Molokun of Atijere, the Chairman of Ilaje local governments, Ondo state government and all enforcement agencies in the state for their information and appropriate actions.
However speaking on behalf of other chiefs on their removal, Juwon Semudara confirmed the receipt of the letter announcing his removal but said the action taken by the monarch was illegal.
He added appropriate action would be taken at the right time to challenge the action of the monarch after studying the situation that led to their removal as traditional chiefs in their viarious community.
