Elulu of Mopa stool: Senior citizens seek Gov Ododo’s intervention

The Concerned Mopa Senior Citizens (CMSC) has called for the intervention of Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, in the Elulu of Mopa stool chieftaincy tussle in Mopamuro Local Government Area of the state.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, a board member of the CMSC and the Oojusasu of Mopaland, Chief Reuben Famodile, and High Chief Michael Ajayi respectively, appealed to Governor Ododo to call to order some of his officials, whom they accused of having ‘interest’ in the case.

They stated that the current occupant of the Elulu of Mopa stool, Chief Muyiwa Ibeun, assumed the position through a kangaroo screening hurriedly conducted by a section of the Mopa Traditional Council (MTC) in 2023, following the passing of Oba Julius Joledo. This process, they claimed, was carried out without due regard to the established guidelines or the traditional rotational arrangement, which has existed for nearly two centuries and has fostered peace and symmetrical communal coexistence in Mopaland.

Chief Famodile explained that Mopa has four ruling houses: Ajerin and Aidan in the Odole Community, and Ipatia and Ilegemo in the Iloke Community. He added that Chief Ibeun does not belong to any of the aforementioned ruling houses. He said that while Ajerin, Aisan, and Ilegemo have each had their turns, it is now the turn of the Ipatia ruling house to ascend the throne. However, the MTC “hurriedly put up a fraudulently ill-crafted report and got the security agencies, including the Chairman of Mopamuro Local Government, to endorse it, thereby giving the impression that the MTC followed due process.”

He alleged that some Kogi State officials of Okun extraction are deliberately using their offices to promote the image of Chief Ibeun at every opportunity, by inviting him to state functions in questionable official capacities, despite being aware that the matter is currently before the court.

He said, “We are appealing to the governor to intervene, to ensure neutrality in this matter. We are using this medium to appeal to the state governor to call his officials to order and stop flaunting to our face, the act of illegality. They should allow the court to deal with the matter fairly, truthfully and that is what we’re asking for. For instance, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Kogi State paid a courtesy call on him (Ibeun) and he promised to confer on her a title that is already being held by a prominent living Mopa woman. And when you do that you are bribing, is an inducement and she can never tell the truth about it.

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“We want to let the world to know the interference of some government officials in the affairs of Mopa. It happens that he (Ibeun) has consummated relationship along the line and so those people who are tilted to him are using their respective offices to promote his interest which is wrong while they know that the matter is in court.

“This, aiding and abetting of Chief Ibeun by some of the Kogi State government officials of Okun extraction is not only a disrespect to the Kogi State judiciary, but an affront to the rule of law and a big slap on the esteemed institution of the judiciary which represents God on the earth.

“We have four ruling houses Ajerin and Aidan in Odole Community and Ipatia and Ilegemo in Iloke Community. The usual custom and tradition of Mopa is when it’s your turn, they will ask you to bring your candidates and the elders in that ruling house will now constitute the electoral college, pick, screen the candidates and pick somebody and forward it to the Mopa Traditional Council (MTC).

“The other ruling houses have no business in this matter because they’ve already had their turns. So, it’s like non interference in your own affairs. They will not help you to select the candidate. It is your own ruling house that would sit and all the elders and the people in that ruling house will sit and pick a candidate.”

“And after they have done their screening, they will now forward the name of their chosen candidate to the MTC for consideration and ratification. If they (MTC) are not satisfied they go back to say we’re not satisfied with this candidate, give us a replacement, that is what is done. In the present case no ruling houses must interfere because they have had their turns and it is the internal affairs of the Iloke people.

“And where the problem arose is that the man in question, Ibeun, is not from any of the four ruling houses. He is not a party to this ruling process. But out of his own self imagination and maybe he has the money and influence, he thinks he can just criss-cross into the system.”

“One of the reasons we called this press conference is that we’ll continue to push the right narratives to the public space. As long as this illegality continues, we’ll not keep quiet. We want the whole world to know the truth. We are for peace and progress of Mopa not only for our present generation but for the generations yet unborn and that is why we are passionate that the correct narrative must go to the public,” Chief Famodile added.

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