Concerned Youth of Ajase-Ipo has accused the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Alabi of unwarranted interference in the selection process of the new traditional head of the community.
The process for the appointment of the new Olupo of Ajase Ipo comes after the death of the former traditional head, Oba Woleola, who passed on in February after a brief illness.
In a letter addressed to the Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the youth forum, formed to preserve the culture, tradition, and the heritage of the community and its people, said Mr. Kayode started to show an unusual interest in who becomes the new Olupo immediately after the passage of the former ruler, stressing that the deputy governor has been working assiduously to get his anointed candidate appointed as the new ruler.
“…the forum is deeply concerned about the trend which the Deputy Governor is going about his move. This forum got information reliably and from a reliable source that the kingmakers of Ajase-Ipo community always meet in the office of the Deputy Governor to plan and take major decisions,” the forum’s coordinator, Mr. Kabir Olawale, said in the letter dated April 21, 2021 and seen by THE INFORMANT247.
They furthered, “Interestingly any decision taken to the deputy governor’s office is always in favour of the anointed candidate of the Deputy Governor. We have information that on the 19th day of April 2021 at about 12:00pm the kingmakers met at the office of the Deputy Governor who was also at the meeting to deliberate on some vital decisions. This is against the tradition of the community and even against the principle of natural justice and fair play.”
The forum added that the deputy governor’s act is against the tradition of the community and the principle of natural justice and fair play.
The letter added, “It will be recalled that your excellency rejected a list of candidates forwarded to your office, the kingmakers went back to the town along with the supporters of the anointed candidate that the rejection was a mere formality and that if the process is conducted one million times, the Deputy Governor’s candidate will still emerge the Olupo because according to them apart from the Deputy Governor who is in their support other top government officials are also in their support.”
The forum, which urged the governor to call Mr. Alabi to order, said his act is deeply affecting the popularity of the current administration, adding that the community needs a generally accepted ruler for sustainable peace and unity.
