By Sola Abegunde
I wasn’t surprised that Governor Seyi Makinde continued in his reckless contempt for the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the matter of the Eleruwa of Eruwa stool.
What would have surprised me is if he had allowed reason to prevail.
For Governor Seyi Makinde, his ego supercedes reason.
He had made his intentions to return Adegbola public and therefore, both reason and the sanctity of the Courts be damned.
In saner climes, Governor Makinde has committed an impeachable offence but it is what it is.
I must however say it and firmly so, that the disgrace at the first instance shall be child’s play compared to what is coming.
Interestingly, Governor Makinde, by this act of contempt, had inadvertently, tied himself to whatever fate eventually befalls Adegbola.
They are now in the same boat, heading for a predictable destination.
There is something unique about Eruwa.
No matter who you are, you can not shoot your guns at us and walk away in peace.
I have carefully read the statement of the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, where he quoted from Ademola Ojo, Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy affairs, who himself is also from Igboora in the Ibarapa Central Local Government, just like Adegbola.
I will like to take the lies contained in the statement to pieces so that the whole world would see Governor Seyi Makinde for who he truly is.
The statement contained outright lies and fabrications.
Contrary to the ascersions that ” the Olaribikusi Ruling Quarters were unable to submit candidates within the stipulated time frame as stipulated in section 15(1) of the Chiefs Laws, Cap 28 of Oyo state”, at no time did the Oyo state Government requested that the Olaribikusi Ruling Quarters should submit candidates.
I challenge the Oyo state Government to publish the letter sent and received by the Olaribikusi Ruling Quarters in respect of such request.
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In actual facts, the issue of selecting a new Eleruwa had passed that stage.
The Supreme Court had laid the issues of nomination of candidates to rest when it ruled that the only stage left was for the Kingmakers to select between Alhaji Prince Rashidi Olasunkanmi Oyedepo of Ajao Ruling House, Prince Lamidi from Omoni and Prince Biodun Ojelade from Sabi.
Those three candidates, according to the Supreme Court had been validly nominated before Adegbola was illegally selected as an usurper.
The Supreme Court merely invalidated the illegal nomination and selection of Adegbola and instructed the Kingmakers to select between the remaining three candidates who were validly nominated.
The idea of submission of candidates is a ploy by Governor Makinde to make nonsense of the judgment of the Supreme Court and even at that, Oyo state Government never demanded for names of candidates from the Olaribikusi Ruling Quarters.
The other blatant lie told in the release is the fact that Adegbola was the sole candidate nominated by the Akalako Ruling Quarters!
Haba! Governor Makinde!!!
The Akalako Ruling Quarters submitted the names of over twenty (20) Princes and there was no selection process as no one was invited for interviews by the Kingmakers.
A palace coup was arranged where the Kingmakers were forced to pick Adegbola.
Why would Akalako nominate someone who is from Igboora as Eleruwa when they have over 20 Princes with Eruwa blood who showed interest?
There is one paragraph in that Press release which must go into the archives and I’m sure that we will make use of it at the appropriate time.
It says ” consequently, after due consideration, the esteemed discretion of His Excellency facilitated the Akalako Ruling House to be recognized as the next ruling quarters to nominate the candidates”!
So, ” the esteemed discretion” of Governor Makinde is what overruled both the judgment of the Supreme Court and the 1957 Eleruwa of Eruwa Chieftaincy Declaration Laws?
The ” esteemed discretion” of Makinde supercedes the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which recognizes the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the final Court of adjudication?!
Very certainly, the days ahead will be very interesting and Governor Makinde will require more lies to sustain the illegalities he is trying to entrench in Eruwa.
I pity the few elites from Eruwa who are involved in this evil agenda.
I was told that one of them doesn’t want to loose the title given to him by Adegbola and the other one wants a title that will confer the Leadership of Ibarapa Land on him.
Sadly, if a rich man has the money to purchase a bed of his choice, who will show him the market where peaceful sleep is on sale?
Whatever it is they are running after, who will accord them the respect deserving of whatever worldly positions they are aspiring to occupy?
As for Governor Makinde, like I said earlier, no matter what he does, the Eruwa episode will definitely end in shame.
Stubbornness is not a positive virtue. On many occasions, it leads to avoidable embarrassments.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
