Members of Adeogun Atele family have given conditions for them to attend a peace parley organised by the Seriki of Ota-Awori Kingdom, High Chief Olanrewaju Bashorun, on the Itele Awori kingship tussle.
High Chief Bashorun had in a letter dated April 15, 2021 invited Adogun Atele family, Gbadamosi Asorota and Olota of Otta, HRM Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege, for a parley aimed at resolving the dispute.
According to the letter, the meeting would help to foster unity and build peaceful relation and development in Awori land.
However, the Adeogun Atele family, while commending the Seriki of Ota-Awori Kingdom for the invitation extended to them; also, said the security of members of their family must be guaranteed.
In a letter signed by the head of Adogun Atele family, Chief Taoreed Dada, he recalled that in the course of the crisis, members of his family have been threatened several times with many hidden calls, saying with the help of security agencies, they were able to uncover the identities and location of the agents of evil men.
‘’Members of my family are ready to attend and participate objectively in the meeting, provided the venue of the meeting is not at the palace of Olota of Ota or any venue in which he has control over. The venue must be a neutral place and open to public accessibility. Once we are convinced of the neutrality of the venue and not a compromised venue, be rest assured that we would honour your invitation,’’ the letter added.
It said Adogun family no longer have confidence in Olota of Ota, as his neutrality in the crisis in Itele is in doubt.
The letter stated that for the Adogun family to attend the meeting, royal fathers of Awori extraction must be present as well as representatives of Ogun State Ministry of Justice, Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogun State House of Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association, Ota branch and representative of the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State.
The family also requested to attend the meeting, representatives of the Directorate of Department of State Security Service (DSS), representative of Ogun State Traditional Council, Chief Imam of Ota or his representative, Mr. Olushola Ojutalayo SAN, Dr. Victor Odunaiya among others.
‘’Our family is a very large family, therefore the attendance of the meeting should not be restricted and the same should be extended to Gbadamosi Asorota family and the Olota in council. The decision that would be reached at the proposed parley would have a far reaching effect on the relationship between Itele and Ota town.’’
The family stated that the Supreme Court, had in its judgment delivered on December 16, 2011, in suit number SC 200/2003, between Arowolo vs. Olowookere, held that only the descendants of Adogun Atele from the four ruling houses, namely Imidawo, Oosa, Ogunrounbi and Alagbeji are the only persons eligible to the stool of Onitele of Itele-Awori.
The letter stated that that the Adogun family had dragged Ademola Asorota, Olota of Ota, Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Governor of Ogun State and others to court in suit number HCT/503/2020 to determine the eligibility of the said Ademola Asorota to the stool of Onitele of Itele.
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