They appealed to the Governor to launch independent enquiry into the matter accusing the Chairman of the council, FEMI ONANUGA and Secretary, SULAIMAN YEKINI for carrying out the selection of F A HASSAN as Lenuwa of Ode Omi with impunity and in violation of the due the process.
In the statement signed by three prominent chiefs of Ode Omi including Chief WOLE OPELE, the Oshodi of Ode Omi, they wondered the rush to carry out the exercise when the selection process was earlier declared inconclusive by Hon. SULAIMAN YEKINI, Secretary to the Local Government.
According to them, the process was declared inconclusive in Ode Omi in the presence of Divisional Crime Officer Abigi, representative of Director of Security Services and other Security operatives as candidates and the Families involved requested for more time to resolve some issues.
The Traditiomal Chiefs said to their surprise, Sulaiman Yekini later went secretly behind to carry out the selection with 3 out of 6 king makers at the Local Government Headquarters in Abigi without the knowledge of the community.
The Traditional council of chiefs said the stool of Lenuwa of Ode Omi is as old as Awujale of Ijebuland and must not be allowed to be rubbished and ridiculed by a process that does not pass the test of global best practices.
They appealed to the Governor to use his fathe rly intervention to wade into the matter in order not to disrupt the Peace and harmony at Ode Omi in particular and Ogun State in general.
copy of the letter below:
14th April 2021
Your Excellency,
Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR.
The Executive Governor of Ogun State.
Your Excellency,
REPORT OF SELECTION MEETING HELD AT ODE OMI ON LENUWA VACANT STOOL
We write to report the impunity displayed by the Chairman (Com. Femi Onanuga) and Secretary (Hon. Sulaiman Yekini) to the Local Government, Transtition Committee of Ogun Waterside Local Government in the Selection process of the Lenuwa of Ode Omi on Tuesday, 13th April, 2021.
The selection was earlier declared inconclusive by Hon. Sulaiman Yekini SLG in the presence of Divisional Crime Officer Abigi, representative of Director of Security Services Abigi and other Security operatives as candidates and the Families involved requested for more time to resolve some issues.
The SLG with other officials left Ode Omi with the hope that their plea for more time was taken; more so a letter to such request has been written and forwarded to appropriate quarters including the Chairman which was jettisoned.
It is to our utter dismay that the SLG later went to the Local Government office with three kingmakers out of six without the knowledge of the remaining three kingmakers and connived with one candidate out of five
He single handedly picked the candidate he connived with (Mr F. A. Hassan) which he had planned to imposed for his own selfish ambition as the Local Government Chairman, even without other contestants and brag that he has done it and has the backing of His Excellency.
Your Excellency, we know you to be a God fearing man who love justice and who always wish to do things in a decent manner in whatever circumstances in conformity with policy and procedure, which has EARNED you great RESPECT and achievements among the comity of Governors in this Nation Nigeria,
Sir, we humbly pray that you should not allow this abuse of power to prevail in a State where you administer. This present Transition Committee Chairman has done a lot that is enough to ridicule our Party and your administration at the grassroot level particularly in Ogun Waterside Local Government.
Your Excellency, the stool of Lenuwa of Ode Omi is as old as Awujale of Ijebu, such stool must not be allowed to be rubbished and ridiculed by a process that does not pass the test of global best practices.
We are counting so much on you sir for your fatherly intervention as such process should not be allowed to disrupt the Peace and harmony at Ode Omi in particular and in our dear Ogun State.
Submitted please
Yours sincerely
For Ode Omi Traditional Council of Chiefs
CHIEF WOLE OPELE
The Oshodi of Ode Omi
The Co-ordinating Chief
CHIEF ADEOYE OYENUGA
The Bashi of Ode Omi
CHIEF ROBERT OGUNNORIN
The Ogbeni Odi of Ode Omi
CC:
Sec. To the State Governors
Comm. For Chieftancy/ Local Govt. Affiars
Rt. Hon. Speaker
Deputy Speaker
