…..As Ogun Govt denies involvement
Abuja – The Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom, in the Yewa-North Local Government Area of Ogun State has withdrawn the chieftaincy titled he bestowed on the former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, as the Otunba Asoludero of Iselu kingdom.
Recall that the first class monarch had few weeks ago named Okorocha the Otunba Asoludero of Iselu kingdom through a letter signed by the monarch.
Okorocha had also accepted the chieftaincy title and a September 19, 2021 date had been set for the installation ceremony.
But, Oba Akinyemi on Monday in another letter addresses to the senator explained that the chieftaincy title was withdrawn in the interest of peace and harmony.
He was, however, silent on the reason for the swithdrawal and cancellation of the installation ceremony.
But our correspondent gathered that a committee of the paramount rulers in the state, including the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, grilled the monarch over the move to honour Okorocha.
It was further gathered that the monarch was asked to withdraw the chieftaincy title and cancel the proposed ceremony.
The monarch in the letter, a copy which was obtained by our, correspondent on Monday, said, “Senator sir, I must state that my decision to withdraw the chieftaincy title offered you is not premised on any hatred for you, but is done in the interest of peace and harmony.
“For the records, I want to declare to Your Excellency that Eselu-in-Council and the good people of Iselu Kingdom still and will continue to love you and other well meaning Nigerians home and abroad.
“My advice to Your Excellency is that you should continue to help the needy in Nigeria, especially through your Foundation.”
However, in a swift reaction, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, has denied the government involvement in the withdrawal of the chieftaincy title.
He said, “It is left to him, I don’t know because he was the one that chose to give a chieftaincy title and he wrote me.
“I have not written any letter to him, I don’t know what the content of the letter is all about. If he wants to write to the press for cancellation, I think we should also have the copy of it so that we will be able to react to it. I am hearing it for the first time from you, I am not aware.
“It is his right to install chiefs in his own domain. I don’t even need to approve it, unless some people are complaining.”
