Ijesa monarchs accuse Owa of high handedness

Tunde Oyekola, Osogbo - 30.04.2008

For the second time in one month, traditional rulers from Ijesaland on Tuesday stormed the Osun State House of Assembly, accusing the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, of high-handedness, especially in the sharing of five per cent allocation from local government councils in Ijesaland.

Traditional rulers from Atakumosa East and West local government areas had earlier visited the House of Assembly complex requesting for a separate traditional council due to what they described as unfair treatment in respect of funds.

The Speaker, Honou-rable Adejare Bello, had derected the Council of Obas and the state government to look into the issue.

The traditional rulers returned on Tuesday with traditional rulers of Ilesa East and West councils joining the team from Atakumosa.

The traditional rulers, led by the Obanla of Ijesaland, Chief Oyekanmi Ogedengbe, and the Awara of Iwara, Oba Adewale Kazeem, said they wanted the Speaker, Honourable Bello, to know that they were not comfortable with the stance of the Council of Obas in repect of what percentage the Owa should take from the five per cent accruable from councils.

When contacted, the Secretary to the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Chief Adeoye Ademiju, said the state traditional council had deliberated on the matter, adding that the recommendation of the council had been forwarded to the governor.