Upgraded Traditional Stools in Ondo communities receive instruments, staff of office

By Alaba-Olusola Oke

The five  chieftaincy stools in Ese-Odo LGA of Ondo State recently upgraded to Oba status following the recommendation of the Ajama Commission of Inquiry, have been presented with Instruments of Appointment and Staff of Office.

As a lasting solution to disputes, agitations and insecurity, the state  government has recognised and upgraded  62 chieftaincy stools to Obaship status among which are  the Ogidi of Ogidigba, Amananawei of Biagbini, the Amananawei of Bolowou, Iginabou of Ajapa and Amananawei of Ukpe all in the local council.

The statement said at the official presentation of  the Instrument of Appointment and Staff of Office to the new kings, Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said in recognition of peace as an essential ingredient of socio-economic development, the government decided to implement the recommendation of the Justice Ajama Commission of inquiry.

“The immediate past administration inaugurated the Justice C.E.T Ajama Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters in 2015 to look into some deserving chieftaincies and make recommendations to government on them.

“But the past administration  could not implement the recommendation of the Commission before its expiration in 2017.

“The present administration  constituted a committee  to review the recommendation of the Ajama Commission and prepared  a White Paper on it.

“The result of the approval by the state executive  is the presentation of Instrument of Appointment and Staff of Office to the benefiting communities.”

The statement said that the governor congratulated the communities for being beneficiaries of the government’s  kind gestures and for realising their age -long aspirations and desires to have recognised kings to superintend over the affairs of their communities.

It added that Akeredolu congratulated all the kings  for being pioneer kings and direct beneficiaries of the largesse, urging them to use the opportunity given them to strengthen the peace in their various  domains and the state in general.

The statement stated that the governor warned that his government would  not tolerate any domineering expansionist tendency that could jeopardise the existing peace in the state.

“Every Oba should refrain from appointing or installing minor chiefs outside his jurisdiction, particularly in disputed areas,” the statement quoted the governor as warning.

(NAN)