Tension has erupted and continued to mount in Kobape town, a community in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, following the controversial nomination of a new traditional ruler for the vacant stool of the Olu of Kobape.
The controversy erupted after some concerned indigenes of Obaland in Egbaland openly rejected the nomination of Chief Tolu Lambert Oyesiku Taylor as the candidate for the vacant stool, alleging that due process was not followed in the nomination process.
The aggrieved stakeholders, under the umbrella of Obaland Descendants Indigenous People in Egbaland, accused elder statesman and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Aremo Olusegun Osoba, cfr of allegedly making a unilateral nomination without wider consultation with Obaland indigenous stakeholders and community representatives, particularly from Kobape town.
In a statement made available to the journalists in Abeokuta, the concerned indigenes of Obaland including Kobape town residents had petitioned His Royal Majesty Oba Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo cfr, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland that the nomination failed to recognise the input of Obaland chiefs, elders, youths and representatives of the meaningful Oba/Obamode descendants indigenes within Obaland in Egba Alake.
The group maintained that the process leading to the emergence of Chief Tolu Taylor contradicted the earlier assurances reportedly given by Chief Aremo Olusegun Osoba, cfr that all interested candidates would be subjected to proper screening and evaluation before any decision would be taken and this must be a joint decision.
According to the statement, the people of Obaland had expected a trusted leadership, transparency and an inclusive diligent process in filling the vacant stool following the demise of the former Olu of Kobape, the late HRH, Oba Olufemi Taylor, who passed away over five years ago.
The protesters further argued that the attempt to retain the stool within the Taylor’s family was unacceptable, insisting that there was no established royal lineage system in Obaland from the inception of the Oba people in Egbaland.
They also alleged that any act of imposing an unknown person, even any Taylor’s family member on Kobape people is unfair in the interest of justice when there were several qualified and community-oriented candidates committed to humanity services and youth development in Kobape town.
“Our community stands at a crossroads in the kingship race. At such times, we must look inward to those who have proven their commitments through years of tangible impacts like the so-called “AJAMETA” Chief Olusegun Majekodunmi and Chief Babatunde Solomon Olusi (JP), they are no strangers to our struggles or Trump’s for the Obaship race who have invested their sweat, resources, and vision into this land also their inputs are well recognized by the well-meaningful Obaland Stakeholders as a result of their commitments to move Kobape forward in Obaland.
“We therefore urge the Kingmakers and relevant authorities to consider only these two proven candidates. Ignoring these potential candidates in favour of Chief Tolu Lambert Oyesiku Taylor with no roots, no sacrifice, and no understanding of our ways – would gamble with our future and insult the legacy of our forebears for bringing in an unfamiliar candidate to the people and residents of Kobape and its environs opens the door to money politics, godfather, and interests that don’t serve us.
The Obaland indigenes warned that any attempt to force the nomination through without broad community acceptance could trigger avoidable tension and communal unrest within Kobape and neighbouring communities.
In addition, the part of the statement also read that the nomination lacked respect for the customs and traditions of Egbaland and was allegedly contrary to the Chieftaincy Laws guiding the selection of traditional rulers in Ogun State.
The concerned group subsequently called on the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, HRM, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, cfr to intervene with immediate effect as a matter of urgency to ensure fairness, justice and adherence to due process.
They also appealed to the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and all other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to nullify the unilateral nomination of Chief Tolu Lambert Oyesiku Taylor who made it known to the people of his unilateral nomination was held in the United Kingdom by Chief Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Chief Damoye Oyesiku jointly initiated him as Oba-Elected for the vacant stool of Olu Kobape prior further consultations among stakeholders in Obaland.
The statement, signed by the concerned indigenes of Oba/Obamode in Egbaland, stressed the need for peace and unity in Kobape town, urging the concerned authorities to avoid actions capable of destabilising the community.
