By Steve Oni, Ilorin
Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has presented staff of office to the new Oluganna of Ganmo, Ifelodun local government area of
the state.
The new Olugana is Alhaji Abdullahi Kolawole Atanda
.
The presentation of the staff of office coincided with the upgrade of the stool to third class status by the state government.
Presenting the letter of appointment and staff of office to the monarch, in Ilorin, the state capital, Governor Ahmed represented by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Alhaji
Habeeb Saidu said that would put an end to the long dispute in the community.
Two ruling houses of Oluganna and Oluganmo have over the years, been laying claim to the stool of the community, which has led to bloody clashes between the two ruling houses for ages, until the recent Supreme Court judgment which favoured the Oluganna ruling house.
The rightful holder of the title of paramount traditional ruler
between the Oluganna and the Oluganmo families in the community had been a subject of controversy and litigation for more than 30 years before it was recently resolved by the Supreme Court.
Children of Oluganna ruling house are of Igbomina stock, while Oluganmo are of Afonja ancestry.
The governor sued for peace and harmony among residents of the community, noting that there could not be any development in a community full of violence and acrimony.
He urged the new monarch to embrace all the parties and mobilise them to support government programmes and policies.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Atanda hailed his recognition as the rightful holder of the title of Oluganna and the upgrade to the third class status.
The monarch pledged to maintain peace, unity and harmony in order to
attract growth and development into the community.
But the Oluganmo ruling house has kicked against the state
government’s action, warning of dire consequences.
Spokesperson of Oluganmo ruling house, Alhaji Moshood Badaru said: “We want Governor Ahmed not to lay down a booby-trap for incoming administration. We appeal to the incoming governor not to fall into this booby-trap. We also urge him to let the outgoing governor know
that he will be held responsible for any undesirable consequences of his action
“We also call on the incoming governor to reverse this injustice.
There cannot be two third class Obas in Ganmo. There is only one. The consequences will be very grave. They all know that Ganmo is a flashpoint. The person that was installed cannot walk the streets of Ganmo.
“All the rulers of Ganmo have always come from Okun-Oye family beforevl this injustice.
We believed strongly that the outgoing governor has been misled by those who went to him surreptitiously to install this man. The governor was seriously misadvised.
“The Supreme Court judgment was not specific. Though I am not a lawyer, there is nowhere in that judgment where the Supreme Court made a clear-cut declaration that the chieftaincy title of Ganmo belongs to Alhaji Abdullahi Atanda.
“Supreme Court did not go into the nitty-gritty of the matter. The
court did not treat the matter on its merit. It was all
technicalities. We know as a fact, that 98 percent of the people of
Ganmo will not accept him. So far we have been able to calm down our people but I don’t think we can do that for too long.”
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