The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described the upgrading of 75 village heads to traditional rulers by the immediate past administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, as unprecedented.
Tribune Online recalls that Amosun in the twilight of his administration promoted the village heads to Coronet Obas.
Abiodun in an address delivered at the inauguration of the State Chieftaincy Review Committee, on Monday, submitted that the appointments and promotions of chieftaincies elicited mixed reactions, hence, the need to review the process.
He maintained that the setting up of the Chieftaincy Review Committee should not be misconstrued as an exercise to score a cheap political point or witch-hunt, anyone.
The governor said the Committee was set up to address the controversies that surrounded the appointments and promotions of Obas and Chiefs that fall within the review period as contained in the Ogun State House of Assembly Resolution No.017/2019 dated 28th May 2019.
He said, “It will be recalled that the last administration approved the appointment and upgrade of some chieftaincies at the tail end of its tenure. Notable among these is the upgrade of several Baales to Coronet Obas which is unprecedented in the history of our traditional institution.
“As expected, the appointment and upgrade elicited mixed reactions from the traditional institution and the generality of our people and it is, therefore, no surprise that the State House of Assembly, following receipt of several petitions on the subject, passed the Assembly Resolution No:017/2019 dated 31st May 2019.
“In particular, the resolution suspended all traditional rulers appointed and promoted between February 2019 and May 28th 2019. The Assembly has since transmitted the Resolution to my Office for necessary action.
“For us as a government, we understand that our traditional rulers are important stakeholders in helping the government to maintain stability while also mobilizing their people for communal socio-economic development. Thus our resolve not to allow any form of assault on the institution or its values.”