Ijesha traditional rulers seek separate council

Tunde Oyekola, Osogbo - 19.03.2008

Obas and chiefs from Atakunosa West and East local government areas of Osun State on Tuesday appealed to the state government to create a separate traditional council for them.

The traditional rulers, numbering 150, who stormed the Osun State House of Assembly with a protest letter, alleged that the rights and privileges earlier accorded them by the governor had been revoked.

According to the monarchs, led by the Olubikin of Odo-Ijesa, Oba Zachaeus Oni, they were surprised that the Ministry of Local Government, in a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. M. O. Adelasoye, revoked the rights and privileges earlier granted them by Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola since 2006.

Oba Oni alleged that the letter, dated February 14, 2008 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, was against the earlier letter written by the governor, with reference number CD/9/421/1, dated September 26, 2006, which granted them some rights and privileges on the disbursement of the five per cent allocation to traditional council in the local government allocation.