There is confusion in Mahin, a riverine community of Ilaje local government Area of Ondo State over the planned installation of new Amapetu of Mahin.
The tension in the riverine community was hinged on the alleged exclusion of a linage, the Osuma Royal House from the selection process of the new monarch.
The first class stool became vacant following the death of former Amapetu ,Oba Lawrence Omowole, on September 2017.
There had been litigations and dispute over who occupies the throne amongst the ruling houses.
The Head and Secretary of Osuma Royal House, Chiefs Thompson Adepiti and Idowu Olayemi Saanumi, who addressed reporters on Wednesday, alleged the State Government was trying to foist Prince Olusegun Akinyomi on the town.
Saanumi, who spoke on behalf of the Royal Lineage, said they would resist any plan by the Local and State Governments to exclude them from the throne of their forefathers.
According to him, the former Amapetu of Mahin, Oba Omowole was from the Agoro Royal Lineage and it is the turn of Osuma Lineage to produce the next monarch of the town.
He said: “We have two lineages in our Ruling House. The other side of the family produced the last Amapetu. It is now our turn to produce the next Amapetu of Mahin.
“When we file in our candidate; the State Government knowing full well we are two families invited us.
“At the end of the day, the Chairman of the Panel unknown to us belongs to the other side of the Ruling House.
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“In his report, the man favoured the Agoro Lineage. Osuma and Agoro. Osuma is the first son of Alagwe. Our linage is excluded in the contest for the Amapetu of Mahin stool.
“We the Osuma Royal Linage did not see the report of the Local Government.
“We the Osuma reject the nomination of Olusegun Akinyomi. We have submitted our protest to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.”
Saanumi admitted Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice wrote to them that it would not do anything that will violate the law of the land.
But to their surprise, the State Executive Council said it has approved the appointment of Akinyomi despite the pendency of a suit challenging his nomination.
He said:” The Osuma Linage will never accept what the state government has done. What the government has done is capable of igniting crisis. We will resist any attempt to sideline our family from the stool that rightfully belongs to us.”
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