Imprison Alake of Egba, Amosun, Monarch tells Court

Crisis is looming within Egba traditional council, Parakoyi Igbore-in-Coucil as they have prayed an Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital to commit the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba (Dr.) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo and governor of Ogun state, Ibikunle Amosun to prison for allegedly disrespecting the court over installation of Chief Kashimawo Laloko as Parakoyi of Egbaland.

Chief Laloko, a former Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, was last week installed as the Parakoyi of Egbaland by the monarch, despite a pending court proceeding.

Historically, the occupant of the Parakoyi chieftaincy title remains the head of the market men and women in Egbaland.

The Igbore Council faulted the action of the monarch, saying, it was an aberration to the laid down rules and regulations guiding the installation of any traditional chieftaincy title in Egbaland.

The Council, in a press statement issued on Monday in Abeokuta and signed by its Secretary, Chief Olusegun Sokeye, titled, “Chief Kashimawo Laloko is neither the Olori Parakoyi Igbore, or Olori Parakoyi of Egbaland”, copy which was obtained by our correspondent, posited that the approval granted by the Ogun State Executive Council was an abuse of process and politically motivated.

It also described the approval as an attempt to penetrate the ranks of the market men and women in Egbaland in order to curry votes towards the second term bid of the governor.

Chief Kashimawo Laloko

This, according to them, was in view of the rumour making the round that the leadership of the Parakoyi circle was mobilising market men and women in favour of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate in the state, Prince Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka.

“It has come to the attention of Parakoyi Igbore in Concil that the Executive Council of the Ogun State Government has granted approval for the installation of Chief Kashimawo Laloko as the Olori Parakoyi of Egbaland, not withstanding, that his purported installation is subject of litigation involving Chief Laloko, the Alake of Egbaland, the Executive Governor as well as the Attorney General of Ogun state among others.

“The Parakoyi Igbore in Council has since January in appeal No CA/1/M.39/2014 appealed the State High Court decision in a suit involving the Ogboni Igbore, the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, the Governor of Ogun State and the Attorney-General of the State and ordinarily, the approval should be put on hold in compliance with the rules and regulations of the court of justice that status quo must be maintained on matters receiving the attention of the court.

“Unfortunately, it is reported from a reliable source that the Government of Ogun State granted approval for the installation of Chief Kashimawo Laloko, who is not part of the Parakoyi Igbore as Olori Parakoyi Egba in one of the recent meetings of the State Executive Council. Chief Laloko as reported to have been formally installed as the Olori Parakoyi of Egbaland by the Alake, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, since Wednesday 4th March, 2015, awaiting the installation ceremony later in the month to mark the 70th birthday of Laloko.

“The purported approval granted by the Ogun State Executive Council is politically motivated. It is aimed at penetrating the ranks of the market men and women in Egbaland in order to win votes for Governor Ibikunle Amosun in the forthcoming general elections,”the statement reads in part.

The Council maintained that it has written letters to the state government,calling it’s attention to attempted manipulation of the chieftaincy title, but got a reply that the petition was being looked into.

It also explained that Justice Majekodunmi of an Abeokuta State High Court had in January 2014 made a position on the case that the Alake of Egbaland remains the prescribed authority on Egba customs, culture and tradition and as such should be entitled to give traditional titles.

The Council, however argued that before Alake could look into the matter appropriately, some Chiefs in the kingdom proceeded on making preparation for the installation, a development which forced them to approach an appellate court.

Not minding the pending court case, according to the release, the monarch went ahead to install Laloko, a seasoned football administrator, with the approval of the government.

It however concluded that the governor acted in desperation, in his bid to win the re-election as the Governor of Ogun State, added that,”he is abusing the court rules and regulations.”