No monarch has right to paramountcy claim, says Ondo govt

*Approves 62 new stools, upgrades others

Ondo State Government has said that no monarch in the state has the right to paramountcy claim, saying that supreme power is not part of the state’s law.

The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, who stated this at a press conference in Akure yesterday, said that the immediate past administration under Dr. Olusegun Mimiko instituted a commission to attend to recognition, adjustment, upgrading and elevation of chieftaincy stools in the state.

He added that the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration set up a six-man committee at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting to review the recommendation made by Justice Ajama Commission.

He said that the new committee reviewed the recommendation and prepared the Government White Paper on the report, settling 51 disputed chieftaincy stools across the 18 local councils in the state.

Among the new stools are Olurokun of Irokun, Osolo of Isolo, Osowa of Ugboroko, while government accepted the recommendations on Akure and Arogbo-Ijaw High Chiefs that are classed as Grade ‘C’ Obas, and to receive staff of office soon.

He disclosed that 42 Grade ‘C’ Obas were moved to Grade B but Owa-Ale of Iyo-mefa, Ikare; Ajana of Afa Oke-Agbe, Olumoru of Imoru, Ojomo of Ijebu-Owo, Elemure of Emure-Ile and Moporure of Agerige were elevated to Grade A, while Oloba of Oba and Niyon of Kiribo remained in Grade C.

Also, out of 20 Grade B Obas, 16, including Orunja of Odigbo, Olupele of Ipele and Olujare of Ijare, were elevated to Grade A; but Olupe of Ipe, Oloba of Oba-Akoko, Ojima of Okeluse and three others remained in Grade B.

The attorney-general, however, said: “Government is in receipt of the recommendation of the commission on paramountcy of some traditional rulers in the state.

“Government notes that paramountcy is not part of the Chief’s Law of Ondo State. Consequently, government has directed the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to set machinery in motion for the amendment of the Chief’s Law of Ondo State to accommodate this recommendation.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Akinwumi Sowore, has lauded the governor and stakeholders for painstakingly addressing the chieftaincy crises in the state.

“Government is hopeful that this exhausting consideration and review of chieftaincy matters in the state will bring peace, unity and progress to various communities.

“Government hereby assures the public that the review of chieftaincy matters will be a continuous exercise and the requests or issues that have not been looked into in this white paper will be considered in the future.”