The people of Bolowou Zion, Community in Arogbo Ijaw, in Ondo State has cried out to the Department of State Services that they do not want a traditional ruler in the community.
The leaders of the community described the plan by the Ondo State government to install a King for the people of Bolowou as an invitation to chaos and anarchy in peaceful Christian Community (Bolowou), which already have in place a Head/King of Zion.
This warning was contained in a statement on Monday which was signed by the elders and Community leaders- Snr.Boanerges (Hon.) Ominidougha Bonsuwe O. Community Leader and INC Chairman, Ondo State Chapter, Akure, Snr. Boanerges Jemine Hossanah, Community Leader, Snr. Boanerges Jemine Mathias, Community Leader, and Boanerges (Sgt rtd) Ebiofini Ebiwari, Community Leader, Snr. Boanerges Suru Ayuba-ebi, Community Leader, Boanerges Suru Peretei Tariwei. Community Leader, Engr. Jeremiah Samuel, Community Leader, Dr. Christian S. Lubi, Community Leader, and on behalf of the Bolowou Zion Community.
The leaders insist that any attempt to go ahead to install the said King, Amananawei of Bolowou Zion Community, would be resisted as the decision is blending before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The leaders recalled that Bolowou chieftaincy stool was created by the Ondo State Government through the White Paper on the Hon. Justice Ajama C.E.T. Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters in Ondo State dated 24th August, 2022.
They stakeholders noted that the White Paper was as a result of a Six-Man Panel (Review Committee) on the recommendations of Hon. Justice C.E.T. Ajama Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters, which was headed by His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“When the White paper was released, we took the following steps to ventilate our disapproval on the above: A Protest letter was written to the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. AkeredoluSAN and Hon. Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ondo State respectively on the 28th day of September, and 2022 through our lawyer Atima K.A & Co. against the recommendation of Bolowou Chieftaincy Stool.
“A Case was also instituted with SUIT Number: HOK/55/2022 in the High Court of Okitipupa. Similarly, an Interlocutory Injunction was also filed on the 26th day of October, 2022.” The statement said.
The elders and leaders stressed that the parties including the Ondo State government, Ministry of Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs e.t.c. the Defendants, in the above matter have been duly served and both the Suit and the Interlocutory Injunction are still before the Honourable Court.
According to them it was regrettable that despite the efforts and steps taken above, the Ondo State Government is still going ahead to install the Grade” C’ King in Bolowou Zion, a wholly Christian Community which has only one Church Denomination (Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Zion) on the 28th April,2023.
“We, the members of Bolowou Zion Community hereby call on the Ondo State Government to rescind its decision to install the said Amananawei of BolowouZion Community.
“We also call on well-meaning Nigerians and Ondo State indigenes to prevail on the Deputy Governor, Ondo State Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to shelve his planned forceful installation of the Amananawei of Bolowou Chieftaincy Stool which is scheduled to hold on Friday, 28th day of April, 2023.
“It is worthy of note, that the Deputy Governor is from Obenla town in llaje Local Government Area, who is very conversant with our people and terrain
“Importantly, Bolowou Zion is a Christian Community like Ugbo-nla, Zion Pepe and Ori-oke Iwamimo in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State.
“Any attempt to go ahead to install the said King is an invitation to chaos and anarchy in peaceful Christian Community (Bolowou), which already have in place a Head/King of Zion.” The statement further warned.
The community leadership, called on the Director, State Security Service, Ondo State, Commissioner of Police Ondo State Command, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 17, Alagbaka, Akure, Onde State, Brigadier-General, Owena Cantonment,Ondo State, to take note and intervene for the sustenance of peace in the Bolowou Zion Community.
The statement reads in full:
“BOLOWOU CHIEFTANCY STOOL: AN ACT OF ILLEGALITY AND LAWLESSNESS OR AN INVITATION TO CHAOS AND ANARCHY IN BOLOWOU BY ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT.
“Bolowou Chieftaincy Stool was created by the OndoState Government through the White Paper on the Hon. Justice Ajama C.E.T. Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters in Ondo State dated 24th
August, 2022.
“The White Paper was as a result of a Six-Man Panel (Review Committee) on the recommendations of Hon. Justice C.E.T. Ajama Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters which was headed by His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“When the White paper was released, we took the following steps to ventilate our disapproval on the above:
“A Protest letter was written to the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, SAN and Hon. Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ondo State respectively on the 28th day of September, and 2022 through our lawyer Atima K.A & Co. against the recommendation of Bolowou Chieftaincy Stool.
” A Case was also instituted with SUIT Number: HOK/55/2022 in the High Court of Okitipupa. Similarly, an Interlocutory Injunction was also filed on the 26th day of October, 2022.
“It must be noted that, the parties including the Ondo State government, Ministry of Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs e.t.c. (the Defendants) in the above matter have been duly served and both the Suit and the Interlocutory Injunction are still before the Honourable Court.
“Regrettably, despite the efforts/steps taken above, the Ondo State Government is still going ahead to install the Grade” C’ King in Bolowou Zion, a Christian Community which has only one Church Denomination (Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Zion) on the 28th April,2023.
“We, the members of Bolowou Zion Community hereby call on the Ondo State Government to rescind its decision to install the said Amananawei of BolowouZion Community.
“We also call on well-meaning Nigerians and OndoState indigenes to prevail on the Deputy Governor, Ondo State Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to shelve his planned forceful installation of the Amananawei of Bolowou Chieftaincy Stool which is scheduled to hold on Friday, 28th day of April, 2023.
“It is worthy of note, that the Deputy Governor is from Obenla town in llaje Local Government Area, who is very conversant with our people and terrain.
“Importantly, Bolowou Zion is a Christian Community like Ugbo-nla, Zion Pepe and Ori-oke Iwamimo in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State. Any attempt to go ahead to install the said King is an invitation to chaos and anarchy in peaceful Christian Community (Bolowou), which already have in place a Head/King of Zion.
“We equally call on the Director, State Security Service, Ondo State, Commissioner of Police Ondo State Command, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 17, Alagbaka, Akure, Onde State, Brigadier-General, Owena Cantonment,Ondo State to take note and intervene for the sustenance of peace in the Bolowou Zion Community.
Thanks.
“We, the undersigned:
1. Snr.Boanerges (Hon.) Ominidougha Bonsuwe O.
Community Leader & INC Chairman, Ondo State Chapter,Akure.
2. Snr Boanerges Jemine Hossanah.
Community Leader.
3. Snr Boanerges Jemine Mathias.
Community Leader.
4. Boanerges (Sgt rtd) Ebiofini Ebiwari.
Community Leader.
5. Snr Boanerges Suru Ayuba-ebi.
Community Leader.
6. Boanerges Suru Peretei Tariwei.
Community Leader.
7. Engr. Jeremiah Samuel,.
Community Leader.
8. Dr. Christian S. Lubi
Community Leader.
For Ourselves and On behalf of the Bolowou Zion Community.
