Kingmakers ‘depose’ first class monarch in Ondo

A first class monarch in Ilaje Local Council of Ondo State, the Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom, Oba Lawrence Omowole, has been ‘deposed’ by kingmakers for allegedly removing Oba Beniah Idiogbe as the Alaboto of Aboto.

According to the kingmakers, Oba Omowole installed a ‘foreigner’, one Oyetayo Ofoaye, as the new king of Aboto, a development, which caused crisis in the area.

The decision to remove the first class monarch was taken at a meeting attended by Mahin Obas, Olojas, Baales and youth organisations ‎held on February 14, 2017 at Igbokoda, the headquarters of the council.

Consequently, a letter was signed to ‘depose’ the Amapetu by four out of the five kingmakers, including Urayen Ogefun of Mahinland, High Chief Akinyemi Omoyele; Asaron of Mahinland, High Chief Roju Malumi; Jadigba of Mahinland, Olibamayo Aladetan and Yasere of Mahin, High Chief Godwin Balogun.

In the letter, which was made available to journalists in Akure yesterday, the kingmakers said Ofoaye is from Ukohi family and that members of such family are total strangers and of refugee status in Aboto.

The kingmakers, who condemned the monarch for alleged recklessness and gross abuse of power, ranging from territorial integrity, land use, chieftaincy matters, the issue of the Alaboto and others in Igbokoda, also resolved that the Yasere of Mahin, Balogun, who is the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, should be in charge of the affairs of the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the monarch has refuted all the allegations, saying that some of those people who signed the letter were fake kingmakers.

Omowole, who noted that they (kingmakers) were only on a mission to blackmail his throne, said no kingmaker has the power to remove him from the throne unless his people, adding that his people are strongly behind him.