The Ogun State government has warned its Ondo State counterpart to steer clear of approving and installing traditional rulers in any of its communities in the Ogun Waterside local government.
The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile, handed down the warning in a statement issued and made it available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital.
According to Odusile, Irokun Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi Seaside communities are bonafide communities recognized by law as situated in Ogun State, stressing that official legal documents dated back to the colonial era and re-affirmed by relevant agencies of the Federal Government attest to this fact.
The statement titled, “Purported Chieftaincies in Irokun Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi Seaside”, partly read, ” the attention of the Ogun State Government has been 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 are bonafide communities recognized by law as situated in Ogun State”.
“That official legal documents dated back to the colonial era and re-affirmed by relevant agencies of the Federal Government attest to this fact”.
While calling the attention of the National Boundary Commission to the press statement issued by the Ondo State government, Odusile enjoined the commission to act in line with extant laws and relevant documents toward resolving the issue.
He added that it is only the Ogun State government that has the authority to confer and recognize any chieftaincy title(s) in the communities mentioned above, being legally part of the State.
He equally called on all indigenes and residents of Irokun Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi Seaside communities 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.
He charged the law enforcement agencies to take note and act accordingly to prevent any breakdown of law and order