**Ode Erinje stakeholders accuse Okitipupa LG chairman of complicity
**Write Ondo Deputy Gov., Attorney General, CP to avert looming crisis
There is currently a build up of tension in Ode-Erinje, a community in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, over a lingering kingship tussle with the Chairman of the Local Government Mr. Igbekele Akinrinwa being accused of complicity.
Some ruling houses in the Community accused Mr. Akinrinwa of planning to impose an OBA, his stooge, on the people of Ode Erinje against court orders and injunctions.
The rulling houses which include Ijaye, Alara, Gbogurun and Akinyemohun, in a statement jointly signed by Prince Aduwo, Prince Ebunola Agbede and Prince Daisi Alara on Sunday, warned the warrant chiefs and the LG Chairman to desist from going ahead with their plans.
They demanded for the intervention of the Acting Governor of the State, Lucky Ayedatiwa, the Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, Commissioner of Police and many other security agencies in averting looming crisis over the development.
The ruling houses in the statement titled ‘THE ORUNGBERUWA OF ODE ERINJE CHIEFTAINCY CRISIS, A CLARION CALL TO CALL MR. IGBEKELE AKINRINWA, THE OKITIPUPA LG CHAIRMAN TO ORDER,’ called on the government to hold the local government chairman. Mr. Igbekele Akinrinwa accountable for any breakdown of law and order in Ode Erinje.
The statement reads in part; “We the FOLLOWING RULLING HOUSES IJAYE, ALARA, GBOGURUN & THE AKINYEMOHUN RULLING HOUSES, wish to draw the attention of the Acting Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Lucky Ayedatiwa, the Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, the Ondo State CP, DSS, AMOTEKUN AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO THE CRISIS BUILDING UP IN ODE ERINJE OVER THE REFUSAL OF MR AKINRINWA TO HONOUR COURT ORDERS AND INJUNCTIONS.
“After the demised of OBA S.O AKINLALU II, the 10th Orungberuwa of Ode Erinje, the case went to court in 2016. The above mentioned four ruling house were in court to challenge the Ebiekuraju ruling house.
“In 2017 the court through His Lordship JUSTICE IKUJUNI placed an interim injunction and restrained all parties from taking further steps over the stool. Since then the case has been pending in court.
“Last year the Acting governor, His Excellency Mr lucky Ayedatiwa invited all the parties to Akure, and after the meeting, he confirmed to us that Ode Erinje has no Chieftaincy declaration and as such, he said the government hands were tied, coupled with numerous court injunctions and orders.
“The deputy governor then advised all the parties to go back home and settle amicably by using Ode Erinje tradition and custom to select or elect our king. He said we should follow our traditional rotational system of order and to also make plan to lift all the court injunctions place on the matter.
“The peace meeting was held, but the Olajorin faction of Ebiekuraju refused to sign the agreement reached after the meeting thereby making the meeting a deadlock.
“Despite all the court injunctions that subsist, we were shock to get a letter from the council chairman directing kingmakers to nominate warrant chiefs. The IJAYE and Alara protested against this development by writing a protest letter to the relevant government agencies.
“Similaly on the 1st of August, 2023, the Ijaye ruling house also filed a new case in court with suit number No HOK/52/23 and got another court injunction, an order by His Lordship, Hon Justice OLOGUN from Okitipupa high court which restrained all the parties and all the relevant government agencies, the Chiefs and Warrant Chiefs.
“Others were; High Chief Seja Ayodele, High chief Anthony Aderehinwo, High chief Gbenga Akinyode, Chief Ayeniyi Olayeye, Chief Ebunola Odofin, Mr Dairo Fabiyi, Mr.Tobi Olatubora and Bar. Ilemibayo Ehinmosan from going ahead with the selection or election pending the determination on motions on notice.
“We hereby use this medium to warn the Warrant Chiefs and the LG Chairman to desist from going ahead. Failure or refusal to obey the court order and injunction will lead to the enforcement of the court order, consequently leading to their arrest and prosecutions.
“We are aware the LG chairman Mr. Igbeke Akinrinwa has less than two weeks to leave office, he has been holdind meetings upon meeting despite two different court injunction. He has boasted serverally in series of meetings held at the local government Secretariat that he will make sure he imposes an OBA (King), his stooge, on the people of Ode Erinje before he leaves office.
“Mr Igbekele Akinrinwa wants to push the people of Ode Erinje to endless litigation. We hereby want the government to hold the local Government chairman. Mr. Igbekele Akinrinwa accountable for any breakdown of law and order in Ode Erinje,” the statement added.
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