By Olusegun Olanrewaju
Palpable peace now reigns in the Ososo community in Akoko-Edo local government area of Edo State over the selection of their traditional ruler.
Reports say that the regime of peace in the hitherto sleepy community is now being stretched by the Edo State Government’s alleged ‘questionable appointment’ of a king of the town,’ despite the matter still subsisting before a competent court of law.
According to reports, the leaders of three of the four quarters -Ani, Egbetua, and Ikpena—that make up the Ososo kingdom, in their order of seniority, had challenged the sole right of the fourth quarter, Okhe, to produce the paramount ruler of the ancient town.
Sources said this development represented a ‘radical departure from the norm’ in the community before the colonial era.
To their shock, it was gathered that one Dele Obaitan was summoned to the office of the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and handed a letter of appointment “without regard to due process, and in clear violation of court process, as well as without recourse to the Traditional Council of Akoko-Edo who are normally vested with the power to recommend,” according to an aggrieved Ososo stakeholder, who craved anonymity.
He said, “As a result, tension now wafts in the ancient town and, as one source puts it, one cannot predict what will happen next if the urgent step is not taken to arrest the situation by the relevant stakeholders.”
