ATTN: METROSECTION PAGE.
*Invited for security meeting by Mr. Governor.
FROM: Dappa Maharajah, Akure.
PIX STORY:
The missing monarch, Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi.
RESIDENTS of Aiyetoro Community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, were in palpable fear as their monarch, Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi (JP), the Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro, disappeared mysteriously.
According to sources who spoke to our reporter, the last time they saw the traditional ruler was when he was leaving to honour an invitation for a security meeting on Monday January 14, 2019 by the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Polity News learnt that the security meeting was slated to be held in Igbokoda, the headquarters of the local government area, which is about 44 kilometres drive on land and by waterways to Aiyetoro.
However, the highest decision-making organ of the community, Supreme Council of Elders, disclosed that Oba Ojagbohunmi had been away for two nights without any traces of his whereabouts.
Addressing newsmen in Akure on behalf of the council and entire community, the Principal Secretary of the community, Mr. Ademolu Atimishe, lamented that some people within Governor Akeredolu-led government were behind the ordeals of the community.
Whereas, the theocratic community founded on January 12, 1947 has been plunged into kingship tussle since 2015 as some few elites in the community are allegedly scheming to impose a king contrary to Aiyetoro tradition.
Atimishe disclosed that the caretaker committee chairman of the council, Atikase Otito, sent the letter of invitation by the governor for the council security meeting.
According to him, the invitation letter dated January 8, 2019, was duly signed by the chairman, Otito, and received by the missing monarch.
“As part of his effort at enhancing continued peaceful co-existence among the people of our state, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has directed that the security committee, Ilaje Local Government meets all the parties involved in the crisis in Aiyetoro community with a view to finding a lasting solution thereto. You are therefore invited to attend the meeting,” the letter read in part.
Meanwhile, the community scribe noted that the invitation came when the entire community was celebrating its 72nd Founder’s Anniversary, which does allow the king to leave the palace in line with their tradition.
“Although, the letter came pretty late at about 11.40 am and the meeting, as stated in the letter, was to be held at 1.00 pm. Nevertheless, as our tradition dictates, during the week of our Founders’ Day Anniversary, the king is not to step out of the community.
“However, four members of the Supreme Council of Elders of Aiyetoro were sent to represent the monarch but they were denied access to the venue of the meeting.
“As a result of this, the meeting, in agreement with the Chairman, Ilaje Local Government and Security Committee (the police, navy and army), was re-scheduled to Monday 14th January, 2019 by 12.00 noon.”
He stressed that “being a peace-loving person, Oba Ojagbohunmi left Aiyetoro to attend the re-scheduled meeting at the Naval Officers Mess, Igbokoda. No meeting held as scheduled because the other party involved did not honour the invitation.”
The Principal Secretary revealed that the DPO, Divisional Headquarters, Igbokoda, Mr. Oladapo Williams, acting under the instructions of some people, orchestrated the disappearance of the monarch.
According to him, some sources informed them that the king was purportedly whisked to Akure by the DPO from Igbokoda, to unknown destination without the knowledge of the family and Aiyetoro community.
The community implored Governor Akeredolu, the council chairman, Atikase Otito, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr, Gbenga Adeyanju to unravel the mystery behind the sudden disappearance of their monarch.
“This is against the culture and tradition of our land, it is a taboo for the king to be missing for more than two days without an inkling of his whereabouts, especially this period when it is customarily forbidden for the monarch to leave the palace.
“In the light of this, the Supreme Council of Elders and the over 40,000 residents of Aiyetoro Community demand for the whereabouts of our monarch, Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, and Spiritual Head of The Holy Apostles’ Church.”
All efforts to speak with the caretaker chairman of the council were to no avail as his number rang without response, while the text message to his phone was not replied.
