The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Waheed Odusile in a press statement issued in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital on Wednesday said members of the concerned communities are worried since the issuance of the press statement by the Ondo state government.
Odusile in his statement indicated that Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi communities are legitimately parts of communities in Ogun state and not in Ondo.
He noted that the Ogun State Government is the only authority that can confer and recognize any chieftaincy title(s) in the communities concerned, being legally part of Ogun State.
He added that official legal documents dating back to the colonial era and re-affirmed by relevant agencies of the Federal Government attest to the fact that the communities belong to Ogun state.His words “The attention of the Ogun State Government is drawn to a recent press statement by the Ondo State Government signed by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye, purportedly approving the installation of traditional rulers in Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi seaside communities in the Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State.
“The press statement has expectedly been generating concern within these peace-loving communities in Ogun State.
“The Ogun State Government wishes to state categorically as follows: That Irokun. Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi Seaside communities are bonafide communities recognized by law as situated in Ogun State.
“That official legal documents dating back to the colonial era and re-affirmed by relevant agencies of the Federal Government attest to this fact. That the Ogun State Government is the only authority that can confer and recognize any chieftaincy title(s) in the communities mentioned above, being legally part of Ogun State
Odusile stressed that the National Boundary Commission is currently aware of a press statement issued by the Ondo state government, urging the commission to take note and act accordingly.
”The attention of the National Boundary Commission is called to the press statement issued by the Ondo State Government; and the commission is hereby urged to take note and act accordingly in line with extant laws and relevant documents.
“The Ogun State Government hereby calls on all indigenes and residents of Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi Seaside communities in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state to continue to go about their businesses peacefully and lawfully as the issue is being handled at the highest level of government in Ogun and Ondo states respectively.
“We equally call on the Law enforcement agencies to take note and act accordingly to prevent any breakdown of law and order.”
