By Aderemi Bamgbose
I
laje (Ondo State) – The Aboto community in Mahin Kingdom, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, has expressed gratitude to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the peaceful settlement of the Alaboto chieftaincy stool dispute.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there had been a lingering dispute over the installation of a new monarch between Oyetayo Ofoaye of Ikohi Family and Beniah Adeola-Idiogbe from Idiogbe Family.
The community also thanked the governor for elevating the Oloja of Aboto, Chief Adeola-Idiogbe, to the stool of the Alaboto of Aboto.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Ilaje and jointly signed by Prof. Olabode Koriko and Pastor Arije Oyekan, Secretary of Aboto community and former President, Egbe omo Ilaje in Mahin kingdom, respectively.
“According to the treaty of friendship signed between the Oba Amapetu of Mahin and Queen Victoria of England in October 1885, Chief Idiogbe was the Baale of Aboto, appointed by the Amapetu who is the prescribed authority, and Idiogbe descendants have since succeeded to the Aboto stool.
“In line with the Customary Law of Aboto, Chief Adeola-Idiogbe, was appointed the Oloja of Aboto by the Amapetu, Oba Festus Ololajulo Isogun, on Sept. 25, 1997.
“The Oloja, however, applied to the Ondo State Government for elevation to the recognised Chieftaincy of the Alaboto of Aboto, which Memorandum was acknowledged by the office of the Deputy Governor on Feb.11, 2002.
“At a meeting on March, 21, 2007, the Executive Council of Ondo State granted the request for recognition of the Alaboto of Aboto stool and the elevation of Beniah Adeola-Idiogbe as the occupant but the administrative processes were not finalised.
“The justice of Chieftaincy practices is that, where a minor Chieftaincy is promoted to that of a recognised Chieftaincy, the occupant minor Chief (Baale, Kingmaker or Oloja) is also concomitantly elevated.
“In Ilaje, for instance, all such elevated chieftaincies of Igbo-Egunrin, Igbokoda, Atijere (Mahin Kingdom) and Olubo, Alagho, Odoka (Ugbo Kingdom) followed this precedent which is strictly applicable throughout the state.
“Following this established procedure, the Executive Council, on Aug.15, 2019, completed the Alaboto process by giving effect to the promotion of the erstwhile Oloja Beniah Adeola-Idiogbe, who is now the Alaboto of Aboto, which chieftaincy has been recognized since 2007.
‘We are aware of the strange claims of some members of Ikohi Family to the Aboto Chieftaincy, who claim origin of the neighbouring Ugbo Kingdom.
“They have unsuccessfully challenged Idiogbe, Amapetu and the Ondo State Government in Suit N0 H0K/55/2004 in furtherance of their meddling in the chieftaincy, the Ikohi, by letter dated Sept 28, 2011.
“They sought the approval of the Ilaje LGA to jettison their much vaunted Olukohi title to adopt the recognized Alaboto title.
“They subsequently filed another Suit N0 H0K/60/2017 against the Ondo State Government on the Alaboto stool which they also lost.
“The Mahin people recognise the right of the concerned members of the Ikohi family to be resident in Aboto or any other part of Mahin Kingdom, just as there are several Mahin families based in Ugbo.
“They are, however well advised that the Customary Law of Aboto Chieftaincy, as a Mahin town, and the Prescribed Authority of the Amapetu of Mahin thereof is inviolable,” the statement read.
The community also assured the government that Aboto was currently safe and peaceful as residents are going about their lawful businesses as security agencies were also on ground to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, Mr Otito Atikase, the Caretaker Chairman, Ilaje LGA, told NAN that the dispute over the Aboto Stool had no bases.
According to him, the state government’s elevation of the Oloja, Oba Adeola-Idiogbe, as the Alaboto of Aboto was lawful.
He warned individuals or groups in the area who might be instigated to foment trouble to embrace peace, saying that the government would not tolerate any form of criminality in the community.
“Oba Adeola-Idiogbe is the right occupant of the Alaboto stool and what the government has done to elevate him from Oloja to Alaboto is lawful,” he added.