Lokoja
Barely a week after some indigenes of Oworoland in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi state called for dethronement and banishing of the Olu of Oworo land, Malam Mohamed Adoga Baiyerohi, Agbosi II, the Oworo traditional council of the land has expressed confidence in the leadership of the monarch.
Duaglobalnews recalls that the indigenes concerned had petitioned the state House of Assembly, alleging that the traditional ruler was in desecrating the tradition of Oworo land, among other allegations and that he should be dethroned.
In a rejoinder and position of the council on the petition, read by Chief Aiyegogbon Berida to journalists at the NUJ Press Centre, Lokoja on Thursday, the council described the petition capable of undermining the Oworo traditional system.
According to it can also cause disaffection among the peace-loving people of Oworo land and embarrass the stool of Olu Oworo Kingdom.”
The council said that from the inception of Oworo land in 1845,each Olu of Oworo,with the exception of Mundi, administered Oworo land from his ancestral seat.
Dissecting the petition further,the council said that no central palace for its Olu,adding that neither Lokoja Lokoja Government nor Kogi state made the administration of Oworoland from a particular community in land an issue.
Berida further argued that Baiyerohi had his palace at Jakura,his ancestral home, where he kept with the antecedent of his predecessors as well carried out official transactions in the area.
The council further said that given the prominence of Agbaja in Oworoland, all prime traditional activities were carried out in the area.
These activities he noted include general council meeting, installation of village heads, Oworo Development Association annual convention and festivities.
According to it, no known Oworo custom, native law and tradition that “forbids this practice,let alone desecration of same.
Berida said though the Olu of Oworoland built a house in Lokoja; long before he became a traditional ruler, he used the house as Lokoja liaison office, given centrality and accessibility of Lokoja to the generality of the people of Oworo.
Duaglobalnews gathered that Oworoland is made up of five ruling houses: the Okpoto, Agbosi, Aba, Ajeto and Ajokpa with the Olu of Oworo as the paramount ruler.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has committed the petition to the relevant committee, to carry its finding and report back to the House.
Many of the traditional title holders in Oworoland attended the event.
