Pahayi community demands for Traditional Ruler
The people of Pahayi Community of Ilaro in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State have demanded for a Traditional Ruler to be installed for the ancient town without further delay.
Pahayi is a town in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State founded by Kuudu a Prince of Oyo Kingdom. It is located very close to Ilaro and not far from the border Nigeria shares with Benin Republic.
Pahayi was one of the towns, which were historically incorporated into the Egbado Protectorate under the Dahomians.
Whereas every society is democratising its governance, Pahayi seems to be moving in the opposite direction as the town had been ran by illegal set of people for several years now.
In the year 2013, the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle ordered the stoppage of illegal sitting of some set of people in Pahayi led by one Muyindeen (Yemideen) who has been parading himself as Baale of the ancient town.
Paramount ruler therefore constituted a committee led by High Chief Fadairo (SAN) to look into the matter about the Baaleship tussle in Pahayi where all the concerned families and bodies were called upon to give account. The report submitted to His Royal Majesty Oba Kehinde Olugbenle by Fadairo led Committee was never implemented , thus sparking protests in the town recently.
Pahayi youths carried placards with inscriptions including, “Gov. Amosun, we don’t want Igbimo Ilu Pahayi Again,” “We are tired of Yemideen, he must go,” “Pahayi youths reject Otun Baale & Amona,” “Olugbenle, come and probe Igbimo Ilu-Pahayi,” “We reject the criminal, Yemideen must leave,” “Yemideen is not fit to be our Baale Koseese.”
The Elders of the town appealed to the Paramount Ruler of Yewa-land Oba Kehinde Olugbenle to as a matter of public importance consider the implementation of the Fadairo led community without delay and support the community’s plan to install a democratically chosen Baale.
Mr. Akanbi called on Paramount Ruler not to afraid of any group of people to do the right thing at the right time, you are the paramount ruler of Yewaland, I see no reason why Kaabiyesi will be afraid to install a right candidate for the throne that has been vacant even before he the paramount land came to the Office Akanbi stated.
He said they are anxious to have a substantive traditional ruler, saying that Oba Olugbenle should be held accountable should there be a breakdown of law and order in the area in the event he ignore the report and appeal from the traditional institution and the community leaders for a democratically leadership for Pahayi.
According to Akanbi, the continued recognition of the Igbimo Ilu Pahayi without Baale amounted to an outright denial of the community’s inalienable right to determine and select substantive traditional ruler of the town.
He said the continued nonexistence of the traditional ruler had created mistrust and disaffection in the area, resulting to bottled-up anger that is capable of causing breakdown of law and order.
In a press statement issued by Akanbi in Lagos on Tuesday, He said that the concern ruling house had already concluded arrangements to present formidable candidates for the vacant throne to usher in a democratically traditional ruler for Pahayi-land, adding that it is now left for the Paramount Ruler and Olu-in-council do the needful
Akanbi added that they would resist with the last drop of their blood, any attempt by any group of people to manipulate or stop the recommendation of Fadairo led community without recourse to the tenets of democracy.
The situation in Pahayi is so dicey that if the Paramount Ruler or state government did not handle it well, crisis may erupt any moment as youths are gearing in that direction but are held back by the elders.
Akanbi Babalola
Alhaji Bello Street
Mafoluku Oshodi-Lagos