The people of Araromi community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have called for urgent intervention of the state government and security agencies, as two people are laying claim to the traditional stool of the community.
A human rights organisation, Active Success and Empowerment Initiative (ASEI), alleged one of the claimants to the stool, Jenyo Omotayo, of public disturbance and unlawful arrest.
The national president of ASEI, Dr Adewumi Babalola stated that Omotayo had been causing public disturbance, claiming to be the Olu of Araromi, despite the fact that his proposed installation had been suspended by the state government.
Babalola, who sought the intervention of the state government and security agencies in the state to call Omotayo to order, also alleged that the activities of Omotayo had been causing fear and apprehension among residents of the community.
Babalola said that Omotayo had been harassing and threatening the Regent of the community, Princess Adeola Omotayo-Asaolu, causing public disturbance and unlawful arrest of some members of the community.
Reacting, Omotayo said despite being picked and installed as the Olu of Araromi, he had decided to stay action in order to avoid contempt of court but alleged that the other aspirant to the stool has been parading himself as the community head.
He accused some elements within the community of imposing his opponent on the community despite the letter from the state government on the suspension of chieftaincy activities until the determination of the suit in court.
He said: “I cannot be disturbing the peace of the community I want to govern. Peace is synonymous to development and what I am interested in is the development of this community and not the crisis some people are planning to instigate.
“I have business and family in the community, and how will I disrupt the peace of my community? All these fabricated lies are to smear my image because of the stool, they should let us wait until the decision of the law court.
However, ASEI maintained that the activities of the Omotayo, who has been parading himself, had been a threat to the peace and security of the community and wondered why somebody would parade himself as the Olu of Araromi while the state government had stopped his inauguration.
Babalola, in the statement noted that the state government has not accorded such honour to Omotayo to direct the affairs of the community, alleging that the self-imposed traditional head embarked on disruption of the community peace.
He called on the state government and security agencies in the state to swing into action before the misunderstanding snowballs into full-blown crisis.
He said: “ASEI is hereby calling on the state government and security agencies to immediately launch an investigation into the matter with a view to restoring normalcy to Araromi community.
“This letter becomes necessary in order to prevent a breach of the peace in the community and this is why we are bringing the development to the notice of the state government.”
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