…Eruwa for progress elders forum trade words with Ibadan stakeholders
By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Olaribikusi Ruling House of Eruwa has Petitioned the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) over what they described as the illegal selection of Samuel Adegbola as the Eleruwa of Eruwa, contrary to the Judgments of Courts of competent jurisdictions.
In the petition filed by their Counsel, Kunle Abimbola, a copy of which was made available tp journalists in Ibadan on Thursday, the Olaribikusi Ruling House chronicled the events that led to the removal of Adegbola as the Eleruwa of Eruwa by the Supreme court in 2019 and how Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state decided to violate the judgment of the Oyo State High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria by insisting on re-installing Adegbola as the Eleruwa.
The petition states further, that, despite entreaties made to Governor Makinde to allow the Olaribikusi Ruling House to enjoy the benefits of the layers of Courts which ordered that it was their turn to nominate the next Eleruwa, Governor Makinde insisted on illegally keeping Adegbola as the Eleruwa of Eruwa against the orders of Courts.
They called on the IGP, the AGF and the CJN to intervene in the matter so that the judgments of the High Court of Oyo state, the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and the Supreme court will not be given in vain.
The petition was said to have since been received by the appropriate offices.
Meanwhile, the Eruwa For Progress Elders Forum have advised Ibadan stakeholders not to endorse illegality.
In a release signed by Prince Olawuyi Lateef Gbadebo and Hon. Sola Abegunde, the Forum drew the attention of the Ibadan stakeholders to the fact that Adegbola can not be legally recognized as the Eleruwa of Eruwa in view of the judgments of courts.
The group recalled that, the Ibadan stakeholders had praised Governor Makinde for re-appointing Adegbola as the Eleruwa of Eruwa and went further to praise “Adegbola’s leadership qualities and commitments to the development of Eruwa”.
The Forum challenged the Ibadan stakeholders to name the developments that has been attracted to Eruwa since Adegbola was illegally installed as the Eleruwa in 1998 to date.
The statement reads in part, “We are surprised to see, that for the first time, Ibadan socio-cultural groups are meddling in the affairs of who is best to become the Eleruwa of Eruwa. This action in itself speaks volumes of the characters of Adegbola. We are surprised that the Ibadan Stakeholders will elect to stand by illegalities.
“In our shoes, will they have accepted and praised Makinde if he altered the process of selection of an Olubadan? Would they have been happy if Eruwa stakeholders encourage a governor to install a controversial character as Olubadan? Do unto others, as you wish they do to you.
“With due respect, Eruwa does not need the permission of Ibadan Stakeholders to select an Eleruwa and we condemn, in very strong terms, the seeming meddlesomeness of the stakeholders of Ibadan. The law guiding the selection of an Eleruwa is as contained in the 1957 Eruwa Chieftaincy Declaration Laws and that law does not give anyone from anywhere beyond the persons and authorities clearly stated therein, the power to accept or endorse an Eleruwa.
“The unnecessary endorsement of Adegbola by the stakeholders does not remove the fact that, in the face of the law, he is not an Eleruwa and the Ibadan stakeholders can not undo what the Courts have done. If Adegbola likes it, he may be reporting to the stakeholders at their individual homes for him to gain their support.
“He doesn’t represent the interests of the larger population of Eruwa indegenes. Therefore, we have no issues with how low he is prepared to stoop to find legitimacy. We know that Adegbola and those who illegally put him there as a puppet are desperate to find legitimacy for their actions but like we said, no group in this world can guarantee Adegbola the legitimacy that the Apex Court of Nigeria had removed from him.
“Beyond that, like we said, we have no problem with Adegbola and his co travelers. They may proceed to search for legitimacy in the moon. It changes nothing. What has been done can not be undone by the Ibadan stakeholders.
