Tenure Elongation: Why Ogun Obas Called For Removal Of Local Government Transition Chairman

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
More facts are fast emerging on the rationale behind the Ogun State House of Assembly refusal to extend the tenure of embattled Ogun Waterside Local Government Council, Transitional Chairman, Hon Femi Onanuga during its plenary session last week.
Latest information gathered revealed that all the traditional rulers from his council as well as market women have all kicked against his returning to the council for various allegations ranging from disrespecting the traditional institution, and high handedness.
At a media briefing held on Friday in Abeokuta, four traditional rulers from his council expressed dismayed at his character and administration in which they described as not acceptable to them and their entire kingdoms having violated and desecrated their thrones.
While addressing reporters, His Royal Higuness, Oba Olusegun Ogunye, Ojotumoro of Abigi who spoke on behalf of other Obas hereby called on the Assembly members not to confirm the embattled chairman, but to remove him absolutely as transition chairman in the council.
Other Obas from Ogun Waterside in support of the clarion calls were HRH Oba Kazeem Salami, Osobia of Imakum Omi; HRH Oba Buari  Balogun, Onirokun of Irokun Kingdom, and HRH Oba Musa Adetokunbo, Elefire of Ifire.
In his submission, Oba Ogunye noted that Onanuga was not properly fit to lead the minerals rich council with his attitude and character, noting that governor Abiodun and Ogun lawmakers should never make any attempt to either approve or confirm his tenure extension as chairman.
The monarch remarked that Onanuga  despite being advised separately by the governor and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, to show remorse for his alleged disrespect to the traditional institution, all these fell on deaf ears as he failed to yield to their advices.
Oba Ogunye read: “This same transition chairman which all of us, the entire Obas in Ogun Waterside rejected. We appealed to allow him to spend that transition period because he has mentioned it in the open that those of them that work within are those in G7.
“The governor said that he should go round to the throne of every king and beg them, up till today, he has not done that. 
The commissioner for chieftaincy and local government also advise him that instead of all this insult and arrogance to all these kings, why don’t you go round and appeal to them. Since today that am talking to you, the situation remains the same. 
“The mother of this transition chairman, insulted the traditional institution of Ojotumoro of Agidi kingdom, and instead of the son who is the chairman to appeal and beg the Kabiyesi, he refused.
“He wrote a letter that was so derogatory to the institution of obaship and the letter has the interest of His Royal Majesty (HRM) Oba Dr Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebu land, and the kabiyesi intervene. 
“Instead of him withdrawing the letter, he wrote a letter as if he was granting mercy to a letter that was asked to withdraw. So the arrogance is the other name of this man. 
“The market woman and the entire people of Abigi rejected him and the entire Obas in Ogun Waterside local government rejected him. All the entire Obas, with no exception in Ogun Waterside local government say we don’t want him. 
“Right now as I speak to you, the issue is before the Ogun State House of Assembly, the suspension of the transition chairman. We want him to be totally removed from office so that it’s going to serve as deterrent to others that their are some institutions that must be respected and that is the institution of the Obaship.
“We are here to implore the entire members of the Ogun State House of Assembly not to confirm his continuation as the transition chairman, we also implore the Ogun State governor not to approve his membership as transition chairman. He doesn’t have any respect to the institution of the traditional council.
“As far as we are concern,  he is not not fit and a proper person to rule the local government. The governor asked the Chief of Staff to investigate and report. As I speak, the Chief of staff has not called or invited Oba to investigate on what has happened. 
“The Special Adviser on Political Matters, Egbetokun who is also advising the government has not advice the government on the proper step to take as regard the traditional institution and every other protocol as involve in respecting the governors words, because the governor said he should go and apologize and he said he will never do that. Except about two days ago when a letter of apology was written.
“We the entire Obas in Ogun Waterside decided that he should be removed from office and his confirmation for the remaining time of the transition period should not be approved by the government.”
It could be recalled that the Assembly last week confirmed the extension of 18 transition chairmen of the local government councils effective from July 19th, 2020, while the confirmation of the chairman of Remo North, Hon. Biodun Somoye and his Ogun Waterside counterpart, Hon. Femi Onanuga were stepped down.
The extension followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs led by the Chairman, Hon. Akeem Balogun, during plenary session.