THE kingmakers of Ayeyoro kingdom in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo state, on Wednesday, affirmed Oba Micah Ajijo, as the traditional ruler of the coastal community, describing any other person parading himself as the monarch as an impostor.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional council, the Baba Ijo and Member of the Ogeloyinbo-in-Council, Bishop Eremibo Eretan and Member Board of Trustees, Ogeloyinbo-in-Council, Rev. Henry Ojagbohunmi, also denied the disappearance of the traditional ruler of Ayetoro.
They said the claim of the disappearance of the town’s monarch is not only untrue but targeted to cause confusion in the peaceful community of Ayetoro.
They, however, said an impostor and claimant to the stool of the Ayetoro, Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, was arrested by security agents in the state over certain criminal offences bordering on robberies, violence and destruction of properties.
Eretan explained that Ojagbohunmi, who had been parading himself as the parallel ruler of the community, was formally invited by the security agents and was subsequently arrested and transferred to Akure, the state capital before he was arraigned in Court.
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He said: “The claim of the disappearance of Mr Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi is fake news. He was arrested on the 14th January 2019 with combined efforts of security agencies and was charged to court the following day for certain criminal offences bordering on robberies, violence and destruction of properties.
According to him, “The criminal offences for which Oluwambe and members of his dissident group in Aiyetoro are being prosecuted were committed mostly on the 11th January 2018.
“On that day, members of Oluwambe’s criminal gang (whom he christened ‘prayer warriors’) attacked law-abiding residents of the community in a carefully planned and coordinated operation with dangerous weapons with the aim of killing innocent people and destruction of properties.
“At the end of the attack, several residents whom they suspected are loyal to the current Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro, Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo were seriously wounded, and properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed.”
Eretan said the incident was reported and investigated which later led to his arrest of Olorunmbe Ojagbohunmi who had evaded arrest for months
He, however, maintained that “the authentic leadership of Aiyetoro Community hereby issued that Oluwambe is not the Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro. The reference to him as a missing ‘monarch’ of Aiyetoro is complete fallacy and fraud.
“The Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro is Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo. He succeeded Oba Gad Olofin Asogbon who transited to glory on 13th February 2015.
“In line with established tradition, Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo was appointed and crowned the new Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro Community and the spiritual head of the Holy Apostles’ Church, Aiyetoro on 7th August 2015 by the Ogeloyinbo-in-Council, the sole authority or body responsible for such appointment
“Ajijo was installed as the monarch of Ayetoro following consultations with relevant bodies including the Board of Registered Trustees of the Holy Apostles’ Church, Aiyetoro.”
He stated that all attempts by the state government to wade into crisis but noted that Oluwambe and his supporters peace moves and rejected the appointment of Oba as the traditional ruler of the town.
On 28th September 2018, the Ondo State Government held a meeting in Akure with the opposing sides in the Aiyetoro crisis, with the State Security Chiefs in attendance.
The Deputy Governor of the State who chaired the meeting informed the gathering that government had decided to recognise Micah Olaseni Ajijo as the leader of the Community, and appealed to the Oba to continue to give Oluwambe access as a prophet in the Church.
“Government also directed that in furtherance of peace in the town, all pending court cases should be withdrawn. In a desperate attempt to challenge and undermine the decision of Ondo State Government, Oluwambe hurriedly returned to Aiyetoro after the Akure meeting and organised his supporters to install him as Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro in October 2018.”
Eretan, however, called for peace in the land, urging the people of the community to embrace, saying development thrives in a peaceful environment.
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