Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday, warned Baales who are yet to register with the state government to desist from claiming legitimacy or face the consequences.

Abiodun, who stated this during the fifth Oko-Ilu Day celebration of the Ogun State Council of Baales, held in Abeokuta, said that his administration would continue to see those who are yet to register as illegitimate Baales.

“I heard there are 1,700 Baales that are registered in the state. I also heard that there are still over 1,700 yet to be registered. I want to implore those who are yet to register to do so, as our administration will see them as illegitimate Baales. Let them go and meet their prescribed authorities so they can also become legitimate Baales,” he said.

The governor, who disclosed that his administration would discuss with the Council of Traditional Rulers on the need to have a payment structure for Baales in the state, added that his administration would also look at a way of funding the traditional council and ensure that a particular percentage of the funding is appropriated towards Baales in the state.

He, however, charged the Council of Baales to educate their subjects on the need to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). He further urged them not to allow any form of thuggery within their environment.

Abiodun, while calling on the Council of Baales to support his second term ambition, said that they should not hand the state over to anyone who has nothing to offer.

In his remarks, President of Ogun State Council of Baales, Tunji Falola, while assuring the governor of the Council’s loyalty and commitment towards the actualisation of his second term bid, said that they were happy with his administration.

He described the relationship that exists between the Baales and the traditional rulers as strong, noting that the insinuations that they were rubbing shoulders with traditional rulers in some communities were unfounded rumours.