~ Say Oba Babatunde Saliu Emergence As New Oloworo Followed Due Process
~ Warn Group To Stop Raising False Alarm
The Elders, Youth and women wings of Oworonshoki community have come out to debunk the statement made by the Nigeria Youth Corporate Social Responsibility Fund (NYCSRF) that due process was not followed in the selection of the King of Oworonshoki Kingdom Oba Babatunde Saliu as he was imposed on the community by the Lagos State Government.
The group had in a Press Conference held on Wednesday, June 29 accused the Lagos State Government of imposing Oba Babatunde Saliu on the people of Oworonshoki and urged it to reverse its decision to forestall youth unrest similar to EndSars.
However, the Elders council, youth leaders and Women of Oworonshoki have come out to condemn the statement made by the organisation describing it as false and unfounded.
In separate chats with newsmen on Friday, they explained that the emergence of Oba Babatunde Saliu as the Oloworo of Oworonshoki Kingdom was as a result of careful consideration as very wide consultations with relevant community and religious groups were made, adding that contestants to the throne were also diligently interviewed.
They stated that the entire people of Oworonshoki are in total support of the emergence of Oba Babatunde Saliu as the new Oloworo of Oworonshoki Kingdom, noting that his reign had ushered in peace, tranquillity, normalcy and prosperity.
They, therefore, advised the aggrieved side in the tussle for the Kingship to stop crying foul over a spilt milk and instead work amicably with the new king.
They also warned the PC to stop fanning the embers of social discord in the community through false statements and alarms capable of jeopardizing the prevailing peace and tranquillity in Oworonshoki community.
The Chairman of Oworonshoki Elders Council, Chief Ishola James Anjola said, " we are very happy with the emergence of Oba Babatunde Saliu as our monarch.
"Since his installation peace and tranquillity have returned to Oworonshoki. Both men and women are happy and we pray for his long reign on the throne.
"We however heard that some aggrieved people are trying to cause trouble in Oworonshoki. We hereby warn them to desist from the plan. We the Elders will not condone it in silent approbation.
"We have therefore put heads together and decide that any group or individuals that cause trouble in our community would be apprehended and handed over to relevant security agencies"
The Alapini of Oworonshoki land Chief Isiaka Lateef in his statement said he was very happy with the emergence of Oba Babatunde Saliu as it followed due process.
He said, "although there were two or more people that contested for the vacant stool of Oloworo of Oworonshoki after painstaking consideration, examination and interviews, the elders decided to settle for Oba Babatunde Saliu.
"In a situation where two or more people are vying for a position of authority, there is bound to be a very strong division."
He, however, appealed to the aggrieved side to let bygone be bygone and work together with the new monarch.
While the Secretary of the Oworonshoki Elders Council Lookman Olaoluwa Gafar corroborated the fact that the emergence of the new Oloworo followed due process as all the relevant groups in the kingdom deliberated over it before finally settling for Oba Babatunde Saliu.
He said: "We heard some people are threatening to cause social unrest in Oworonshoki over what has been ordained by God.
"The only advice I have for them is to toe the path of peace. There is love among us in Oworo and our new King is a humble, peace-loving and accommodating person. They should come and make peace and everything will be settled.
"We welcome everybody. There's no way things like this will not happen. It is a contest between two or more people but after careful consultations and interviews, the elders, youth, women and other groups in Oworonshoki came together, deliberated over it and decided that it was Oba Babatunde Saliu that can effectively succeed his father on the throne.
"And as they used to say, the voice of the people is the voice of God".
Another notable figure in the kingdom, Chief Idris Aremu Hassan, the Apesin of Oworonshoki land said the emergence of Oba Babatunde Saliu followed due process and was made even with Christian and Muslim groups in the community.
He noted that the king was also made to pass through some traditional rites before his eventual installation and wondered why some people are raising unnecessary eyebrows over it.
Similarly, the Otun of Oworonshoki land, Chief Rafiu Agoro said Oba Babatunde Saliu was ordained by God to be King and that the notable signs of his ordaining by God are that normalcy has returned to the land of Oworonshoki as rains have started falling while prayers are being answered.
He said: " It's just like a case of two political parties - PDP and APC. There's bound to be strong division but we settled for Oba Babatunde Saliu".
The Youth of Oworonshoki land were not left out of the process leading to the emergence of Oba Babatunde Saliu as the new Oloworo of Oworonshoki Kingdom.
According to the Youth leader of Oworonshoki Youth, Chief Lateef Adebayo Kajowu, they wholeheartedly support Oba Babatunde Saliu as the new Oloworo of Oworonshoki Kingdom.
He said their unalloyed support for him was evident in the rally the youth staged around the town of Oworonshoki on Tuesday to mark his 14-day on ascension to the throne.
"There is no crisis in Oworonshoki, the fact is that when two or more people are tussling for power only one would prevail. In this situation, it was Oba Babatunde Saliu. And those who lost should be patient.
"And before his emergence as the new Oloworo of Oworonshoki Kingdom he had met with the elders, women and youth and they gave him the needed support . Even on Tuesday we rallied round Oworo to show our support for him", Adebayo said.
Another Youth Yusuf Lawal said they are in total support of the new king and advised aggrieved side to accept the verdict in good fate.
Some notable women figures in Oworonshoki community also expressed their opinions over the issue. Madam Tawakalitu Aduke Adenrele, Chief Mrs. Olumuyiwa Silifat, the Iyagan Oworonshoki and Mrs. Amudalat Amosa were of the very strong opinion that Oba Babatunde Saliu's ascension to the throne of his progenitors actually followed a due process and the women of the community were duly involved.
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