The Nation Newspaper

Tag: monarch

  • Oworonshoki clash: Police arrest monarch

    Oworonshoki clash: Police arrest monarch

    Police operatives in Lagos have arrested the Oworonshoki monarch, Oba Bashiru Salihu and a man identified as Alhaji Ajisegiri for allegedly instigating the clash that broke out in the area.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni who confirmed their arrests during a press conference at the command headquarters in Ikeja, said that the duo may be charged to court.

    He explained that they were arrested following the murder of a young man during a fight by hoodlums loyal to the suspects.

    According to him, the thugs, suspected to be cultists were allegedly acting on the orders of both men, insisting that the police will prosecute them if there was any evidence linking them to the crime.

    He further explained that four suspects have been arrested in connection to the fight, two of whom have confessed to have been directly involved in the murder.

    However, the first son of the embattled monarch, Aremo Nurudeen Salihu denied that his father was arrested.

    He said his father was only invited to write a statement at the police headquarters in Ikeja and was not detained.

    He said:”It is not true that my father (Oba Salihu) was arrested; on the contrary, he went to the state police command in Ikeja to write a statement concerning the mayhem caused by over 200 thugs who destroyed his palace, family house and his dredging company.”

    While giving an update on the performance of the command since January 27, Owoseni said 47 robbery suspects were arrested, noting that most of them were traffic robbers.

    He decried the spate of gangsterism despite efforts by the police to stamp out the vice.

    Owoseni also appealed to residents to furnish the police with information that will aid crime prevention.

    “We have launched police application on smart phones. We have hot lines which are in public domain and we have telephones at every police station where the public can reach us at any time of the day or night.

    “When they hoard information we could have used that time to deal with the situation promptly. So we beg the public to help us in order for us to help them. It is their taxes that are used to pay our salaries; so we are always there for the public.

    “Sometimes we get these distress calls and once we get to the street, the gate is locked and the gateman manning the gate will be nowhere to be found. This aid criminals get away with crime easily.

    “At least, when they hear the sound of siren, the gatemen should open the gate. The Lagos State government has even said some of these structures should be removed. We should learn to obey the law,” he said.

    Owoseni used the opportunity to warn commercial bus drivers to obey traffic rules and be disciplined.

    CP Owoseni also said 25 suspects including six aliens from the Niger Republic for various offences allegedly committed since January 27.

    They are Mustapha Musa, Abdulahi Ali, Isah Musa, Seidu Isah, Aliyu Azuma and Yakubu Adamu.

    Their gang also had a Nigerian identified as Isiaka Yakubu.

    Owoseni said the suspects were nabbed on January 27, at about 2:30am in a Nissan Sunny vehicle marked AKD163DW, while going for an operation in Ebute Metta.

    He stated that six cutlasses, an iron cutter and two torches were recovered from them.

  • Community gets monarch

    Community gets monarch

    The kingmakers of Ayede Ogbese in Ondo State, yesterday, ratified Prince Isaac Ayodele Oluyede as the monarch of the community.

    Oluyede, 83, was chosen by two kingmakers, the Lisa, Chief Femi Fajembimo and the Odopetu, Chief Oladimeji Abitogun.

    His younger brother, Prince Adeniji Oluyede, lost the competitive bid.

    It was learnt the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, Mr. Bamiduro Dada and Chairman of Akure North Local Government Mr. Pat Ojo did not send representatives.

    But agents of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), Police sent representation.

    Abitogun said: “In Ayede Ogbese, we love documentation. There is no clear directive in that regard. And if indeed they want to stop the king making process, they know better; they should go to court. One hopes that the commissioner has not turned himself into a spokesperson for the losing candidate”.

    The Reagent of Ayede Ogbese Princess Kofoworola Folashade Olagbaju, installed after the death of Peter Adetunmbi Olasehinde Iseoluwa Oluyede IV, last July 14 , will hand over to Oluyede.

     

  • Monarch appeals to Ambode for school, hospital

    Monarch appeals to Ambode for school, hospital

    The Oniba of Iba, His Royal Highness (HRH) Oba Goriola Oseni has appealed to Governor Ambode to establish a public secondary school and hospital for residents of the community. The monarch made the appeal during his 40th coronation anniversary.

    Though he said his four decades on the throne were fraught with several challenges, Oba Oseni feels fulfilled.

    He regretted that one of his greatest challenges as a traditional ruler is the numerous litigations in which his throne was enmeshed and which affected the finances of the monarchy.

    Oba Oseni lamented the millions of Naira that lawyers took from him every year as legal fees in order to defend his community.

    This development, the monarch lamented, was due to what he called his predecessor’s lack of education; a situation that made him to enter into certain agreements which later became an albatross to his monarchy.

    “It’s good for people to be educated. If my predecessors were educated, I wouldn’t have been facing these challenges now. For instance, how can our customary tenant claim to be land owners? Do you expect me to fold my arms and watch? It might interest you to know that some of them wanted to install themselves as Oba in Awori land.

    “Many years back when I ascended the throne, lawyers could charge you N50, 000 or thereabout. But you get a case and approach a lawyer today, your bill runs into millions. I have won some of the cases and I believe God would assist me to win others,” he said.

    Looking back, the monarch is grateful to his Creator for helping him to weather the storm.

    “Unease lies the head that wears the crown! I faced a lot of problems but with the help of Almighty Father, I conquered everything. Some people who were installed as kings died after two or four years on the throne; but here we are today. If anybody had said I would still be alive, I would have doubted it,” he said.

    One of the monarch’s greatest achievements is the unprecedented development which the ancient town has experienced. The monarch recalled that Iba Kingdom is diametrically different from the ‘jungle’ it once was when he mounted the throne.

    “I’m happy about the development of Iba. In 1975 when I was called back home, one could not have access to this area. Who are you coming to meet in Iba apart from the indigenes and the isoko palm wine tappers that I met here when I came?

    “I was living in Ajegunle then. You had to enter the bus from Ajegunle, get off at Iyana-Oba and trek down here.

    “During the dry season, we would cut palm leaves and lay them on the ground; during rainy season, it was always terrible. But see the way things are now; various small-scale factories littering everywhere, hotels, private schools, LASU, our LCDA is also here.

    “When I celebrated my 35th year on the throne five years ago, I appealed to the state government to fix certain roads, and I’m grateful that ex-Governor Babatunde Fashola did very well, with the exception of Ijagemo and Ijododo. But I’m sure that by the grace of God, it will be done this time.

    On his regrets in the past 40 years, Oba Oseni said there were none.

    Everything he ever did was based on his conviction as he always consulted God before taking any action.

    He said: “I have nothing to regret since the beginning of my reign. In 1976 a year after I was installed as king, the followers of my fathers and my predecessors instituted a case against me. I was less than six months on the throne then, but some of the good works I did before I returned home, gave me lots of courage.

    “Somebody must be God-fearing and I believe in my God; that is why I still insist I have no regrets,” he said.

    Many of his contemporaries and subject understand Oba Oniba on his principled stance on issues. He is not the one to be easily tantalised with cash.

    On principles, Oba Oseni said: “I have principles. “Once I the Oniba of Iba, says ‘no’, everybody within my domain and beyond knows I will maintain that stance. You cannot convince me with money. I know I’m not rich but I can never be tempted with money to do things against my principle.”

    He noted that the immediate past chairman of the Iba LCDA had already acquired a parcel of land in the community for the proposed school.

    “Unfortunately, the Ojo Military Cantonment has acquired most of our lands. We are also contemplating a general hospital but where do we site it? So, we are appealing to government to cede a part of the land acquired by Fashola before he left office as governor so that we can build a hospital there.

     

  • Olukere not a monarch, Ogoga insists

    •Condemns violence over billboard destruction 

    The Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu, has warned the Olukere, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, to stop parading himself as a traditional ruler in the town.

    Adu said Olukere is a chief priest in the community and never a monarch adding that the 1933 Intelligence Report and other historical documents established that Ogoga is the king of Ikere.

    Addressing a briefing in his palace at the weekend, the Ogoga also warned that he would no longer tolerate violence and brigandage in the community, following last week’s pulling down of a billboard bearing the picture of the Olukere allegedly supervised by Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The Ogoga revealed that he had to calm down the youths from retaliating, following the attacks on them by suspected thugs allegedly working for the Olukere.

    Oba Adu maintained that the Olukere since the foundation of the community was a chief priest, who offers prayers and sacrifice for peace, progress and development of Ikere.

    According to him, “it is a taboo for any Olukere to come out in the day, violating this would attract curses from the gods.”

    The Ogoga challenged the Olukere to tell the world where he (Obasoyin) derives his authority from since he was never recognised by the government, does not have a council of chiefs and never admitted into the state council of traditional rulers.

    He said: “Olukere is being misled because none of his predecessor flexed muscles with me. But if all alternative means of resolving this matter fail, then I shall go to court to seek redress, because I can’t allow this to continue.”

    The Odolofin of Ikere, High Chief Ayodele Alonge, who spoke on behalf of Ogoga-in-Council, insisted that the Olukere, who is laying claim to founding the town remains the chief priest and is No 44 in the chieftaincy hierarchy.

    On the claim by the Olukere that the Ogoga is not a crowned prince, the chief replied that Ogoga inherited his crown from Benin from time immemorial, being a direct son of  Oranmiyan , who established the kingdom.

    He said: “Ikere was founded at about 11th century by one Aladeselu, so the claim by Olukere that he owns the land does not hold water.

    “That was why every elected Ogoga must spent seven days as part of the rites at Aladeselu’s house, representing the seven years  Ogoniga (Ogoga) , a Benin prince spent with him when he arrived the  town.

    “The first Olukere is called Oloje and this meant that he was a masquerade worshipper. Though, he was a powerful herbalist and that was why he was made the chief priest of this community and his main job is to worship the Olosunta, which Ikere people see as their savior.

    “As far as the history is concerned, Olukere is not a ranking chief. He is just a chief priest and he should stop referring to himself as a king. He is not even recognized by the state government.

    “Even Ile-Ife, where he claimed to have got his crown, history shows that he hailed from Obalorin compound in Ilode and this family  was never a direct descendant of Oduduwa”.

  • Court ask Edo Monarch to vacate palace

    Court ask Edo Monarch to vacate palace

    A Benin High has asked the Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, the Otaru of Auchi to vacate the premises he currently occupies as his palace in the last two decades as his an illegal occupant.

    The property according to the court, which also ordered the monarch to pay N10million as damages, actually belongs to its rightful owner, Orbit Building society Limited, which sued the Otaru claiming ownership.

    Justice Esohe Ikponmwen who granted the claimant the right to take full possession of the property as the rightful owner, stressed that the company acquired the said property in 1993, adding that since the second defendant has no tie with the property he should vacate the property within 31 days.

    The court who awarded N5 million as general damages and N5 million as exemplary damages, stressed that the damages would have been bigger owing to the number of years the second respondent occupied the property but was awarded in line with the demand of the claimant.

    Orbit Building Society had in 1997 filed a suit against the Otaru of Auchi asking that he quit the property which is located at old Government Reservation Area, Auchi Estako West LGA, Auchi.

    It was gathered that the property, which was then known as Bendel Hotel was bought by the claimant from Edo State government in 1993 with an agreement to continue to keep the hotel running and provide employment opportunity for the community. But the Otaru illegally took it over and built his palace on it.

    For Ikoghode Julius, the Managing director Orbit Building Society Limited, it was a dream come true, pointing out he had on several occasions confronted the royal father on his decision to move his Palace into the property in 1993, adding that after waiting for five years, he decided to seek redress in the court.

    According to him, Edo State government told me that “I should use whatever means available to recover my property and I am happy that the court has given me my property back after twenty two years.”

  • Monarch, group hail Buhari’s war against corruption

    Monarch, group hail Buhari’s war against corruption

    The Asa-Ooni Adimula of Ora-Igbominaland in Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Joshua Tinuoye Atolagbe, has urged Nigerians to support President Mohammadu Buhari?’s anti-graft war and fight against insurgency. Describing corruption and terrorism as hydra-headed monsters threatening to consume the nation, the newly installed monarch said it was important that everyone join the crusade and war against these two enemies of the country.

    The monarch spoke with journalists at a press briefing heralding his official coronation, presentation of Staff of Office and Instrument of appointment by the Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola. According to him, for the sake of humanity and development, corruption and terrorism must be totally uprooted. He attributed the myriads of challenges facing the country to corruption, noting that the menace has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation.

    He said: “We must begin to fight corruption seriously and with utmost sincerely. If corruption is totally eradicated, Nigeria will be the best place to be in the world. With my wide experiences over the years across the world, I have realised that Nigeria remains the only country in the world where everything works in our favour but are being hampered by greed, selfishness, misappropriation and bad governance.”

    The royal father commended President  Buhari for his people-oriented policies and programmes.

    “It is regrettable that at this period of economic hardship, our nation could still be facing challenges like this. If our economy has been properly managed for the past sixty years when Nigeria discovered oil, our country would have been in prosperity now but quite unfortunate the nation has been gruesomely inflicted by the greedy leaders whose insatiable appetite to wealth accumulation could not be measured.

    Similarly, the National President of Muhammadu Buhari Transformation of Nigeria (MBTN), Dr. Samson Bilesanmi, yesterday lauded the federal government anti-corruption crusade. He spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the swearing-in ceremony of the national and state officers of the group.

    Bilesanmi noted that the effort would assist in tackling the menace of corruption in the country and re-shape its economy. He said MBTN was founded as a political structure of President Muhammadu Buhari to propagate his vision in all the nooks and crannies of the country. The group leader, who came to Ondo state with other officers, said MBTN is saddled with the responsibility of spreading information on activities of President Buhari across the country.

     

  • Another monarch kidnapped in Delta  

    Another monarch kidnapped in Delta  

    The Odion-Ologbo of Olomoro Kingdom, Isoko South council area of Delta state, King Josiah Umukoro, Aghaza 1, has been kidnapped, by unidentified armed men from his palace.

    King Umukoro’s incident came barely a week after a similar earlier incident, involving the late king of Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha North council area of the state, Obi Akaeze Edward Ofulue III.

    Obi Ofulue, who was allegedly kidnapped by suspected Fulani herders, was found dead about a week ago.

    Although facts surrounding the kidnap of the Odion-Ologbo were still sketchy at the time of filing this report, The Nation gathered that he was apprehended by his kidnappers about 7:30am on Friday and was whisked away to an unknown destination.

    According to sources, the monarch was whisked away in a RAV 4 Sports Unitility Vehicle (SUV), painted in dark green colour.

    Confirming the incident in a brief statement, the Isoko South council chairman, Sir Itiako Constantine Ikpokpo, expressed confidence that the abducted monarch would be rescued.

    “Yes, he was abducted this morning in Olomoro. I was alerted at about 8:30am. The police and army swung immediately into action with the help of the vigilante. We are confident he will be rescued”, Ikpokpo said.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu (DSP), said there was no lead yet on the kidnap of the monarch, but said the command had commenced moves to secure his release.

    “No lead yet, it happened this morning, but we are on their track,” she said.

     

  • Artist, monarch trade words over feud

    Artist, monarch trade words over feud

    Embattled award winning artist Jelili Atiku and the Ejigbo royal family last Thursday gave conflicting accounts of their rift.

    The palace accused Atiku of committing a tabboo against Ejigbo tradition by bringing a masquerader to the town.

    Atiku denied the allegation, saying what he did was visual art and not masquerading.

    A chief who simply identified himself as Basorun Ejigbo and the Iyalode of Ejigbo said it is a taboo to bring a masquerader to the town.

    Atiku and his group, the Bashorun said, went about the town in masquerader’s attire.

    “When we first saw him, we were frightened. Then we saw the pamphlets he had been distributing,” he said.

    The pamphlets contained prayers in English and Yoruba and information concerning some allegations levelled against the monarch.

    Underneath each allegation were the web links and publication dates where the information can be accessed on internet and newspapers.

    This angered the chiefs, who claimed that Atiku’s supporters and those following him threw stones at the palace as they walked past it.

    Denying the allegations, Atiku said: “What I did was just visual art and not masquerading. Most of my face was visible. I know the taboos of the land and their consequences, and I won’t go against it.”

    Reliving the circumstances surrounding his arrest, Atiku said: “On the day of the incident, I went to see some friends and had only just returned home. As I was removing my clothes, about seven armed policemen came. They just said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) needed me at the police station. One of them was just shouting; ‘you are a criminal, come out! Come out!’ He was also pointing a gun at me.

    “At Ejigbo police station, the DPO said I should be taken downstairs because he did not want to talk to me. My belongings were then collected and I was subsequently locked up for the night. The next day, I was asked to write a statement concerning my activities on Thursday, January 14. I wrote all about the performance we staged called “Aragamago, will rid this land of terrorism” which was not a cult group as reports had claimed.”

    According to him, five chiefs had once come to his house to warn him about his activities against the monarch.

    “They destroyed my property when I did not agree with them,” Atiku said.

    Another chief said they had gone to warn Atiku to stop posting negative comments about the monarch on Facebook.

    “He (Atiku) began to quarrel with us after which he destroyed his own properties and blamed it on us,” the Abore of Ejigbo said.

  • Here comes the new monarch

    Here comes the new monarch

    Ayangburan of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi has installed Chief Olukayode Oyewole Olomo as Baale of Ojogbe, Ikorodu, Lagos, OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

    It was funfair at the palace of the Oba of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, Ayangburan of Ikorodu, when he installed Chief Olukayode Oyewole Olomo as Baale of Ojogbe, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    It was a gathering of various chiefs, Baales, Erelus, Osupos, indigenes and well wishers.

    Guests were decked in choice traditional attires. The king and the new Baale wore white native dresses.

    It was a week long ceremony which featured  visitation of Chief Olomo to schools in Ojogbe where he presented them with gifts.

    On Tuesday, there was a lecture on crime  while on Thursday there was health talk and visitation by the Baale to General Hospital and Maternity Centre in Ojogbe. On Thursday and Friday, it was all games and sports at Ojogbe, while on Sunday, thanksgiving service was held at Ita-Elewa, Ikorodu, Lagos

    On Saturday, the ceremony started with the installation of Chief Olomo. It was dramatic as Oba Shotobi decorated the new Baale with a beautiful cap of dark purple and gold. He also put the royal beads on his neck and hands.

    The king, afterwards, charged him, saying there were tasks ahead of him. He warned against selling peoples’ land in the community during his reign. He advised him to create a new look for the community and make it better than he met it.

    He urged the people of the community to cooperate with their Baale.

    Oba Shotobi, however, called on the government to provide schools, health centres, stable electricity and higher institutions in Ojogbe community.

    Thereafter, the Oba presented the Baale with his certificate. The new Baale was full of joy. The Oba of Ikorodu and other guests took turns to take photographs with him.

    The ceremony continued with a reception during which the new Baale moved around, greeting and taking photographs with guests.

    Demola George and Sucess Juju band entertained guests.

    Chief Olomo said his installation was a call to duty.

    He promised to provide his community with everything that is within his power.

    An elated Olomo said recounted  that it was about seven years that he was picked in the village and through the years, one thing or the other hindered his installation.

    He called for the government’s intervention in the provision of schools and good roads in the community, saying the government should do more to assist traditional rulers.

    Chairman, Council of Baales, Ikorodu, Baale of Omitoro Chief Mufutau Odusoga told Olomo that they would work together to raise Ikorodu, wishing him goodluck.

    He described the Baale as an achiever who is calm, honest, intelligent and trustworthy. He said he would walk with him to move Ikorodu forward.

    President, St Peters Old Students Association Nigeria (SPOSAN), Alhaji Musiliu Soetan, urged the new Baale to have the fear of God. He described him as calm kind and focused, adding that he would be a model among the Baales, adding and that would be emulated because of his good qualities.

    He added that Olomo, who is the first Baale to be installed in the reign of Oba Shotobi, is an asset and would perform creditably.

  • Tinubu-Ojo urges market leaders to be security conscious

    Tinubu-Ojo urges market leaders to be security conscious

    The Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has urged market leaders in Lagos State to give sanitation and security maximum priority.

    She said market leaders were expected to be environmental and chief security officers in their various markets.

    Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo, who spoke in Lagos at the installation of Mrs. Risikat Philip as the Iya Oja and Hajiya Sidikat Mayegun-Yekin as the Otun Iya Oja of Folashade Tinubu-Ojo Ebute-Ero Market, Gorodom, Lagos Island, enjoined the new leaders to ensure the safety of lives and property.

    She urged them to form a committee that will ensure all-round security in the markets.

    Chief Tinubu-Ojo said market leaders should ensure that no one was allowed to sleep in markets at night, and the committee should be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that electrical appliances were switched off after the day’s business to avoid fire outbreak.

    She said to avoid being disturbed by environmental officers; market leaders should ensure that markets were kept clean.