BY BIODUN AKINLUWA
Residents of Erekiti- Luwoye In Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State have urged the state government to wade into chieftaincy crisis in the town before it gets out of hands.
The Oyetoyo of Erekiti-Luwoye, Chief Dupe Ogunmakinwa
The people who stormed the governor’s office in Akure to protest what they called looming crisis carried placards with various inscriptions.
Spokesperson for the group who is also the Oyetoyo of Erekiti-luwoye, Chief Dupe Ogunmakinwa said some non-indigenes were parading themselves as princes of the community and wanting to be crowned as an oba.
Chief Ogunmakinwa alleged that the people had been coming to lobby the government against the tradition and culture of the community.
He said indigenes of the community would resist any attempt to tamper with their tradition by imposing non-indegenes on them as an Oba.
Chief Ogunmakinwa called on governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to as a matter of urgency curtail the people in the interest of peace.
Addressing the protesters, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, urged the community members to remain calm, assuring them that the government would take all necessary steps to ensure a fair and successful selection process for a new Oba.
Alhaji Takuro noted that the community lacked a formal Chieftaincy Declaration, which was why the government did not approve the person initially presented as regent.