Why Federal Polytechnic host community Ayede is yet to get new Oba

Why Federal Polytechnic host community Ayede is yet to get new Oba

Khalid ABRAHAM

Since the demise of its last monarch Oba Solademi Akanni Adewuyi about four years ago, Ayede in Ogo-Oluwa local government area of Ogbomoso zone Oyo state, is still without an Oba, a situation obviously drawing back the progress of the agrarian community particularly as it affects the relocation of the Federal Polytechnic alloted her, to its land, which took off at a temporary site in Iresapa in Surulere local government.

The polytechnic was approved for the town in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari along with five others across the country but it had a head start because of the local support it received from the people of Ogbomoso zone, which enabled it to start at the temporary site in earnest.

Because of the visionary leadership enjoyed by the institution and rallying of Ogbomoso people the permanent site at Ayede is now ready for occupation, however, the management insists it needs construction of an access road to have a smooth operation at the location. Construction of the access road is a project of a few kilometres (in fact less than seven kilometres stretch) but appeals to the local, state and federal governments to get it executed have yielded no result. With an Oba in the community the push would have bore more weight. Also, the community is complaining that most agreements reached with the former Oba on behalf of the town like employment quota have been jettisoned because there is no Oba to clamour for the adherence to the agreements. “After all, we gave the land free to the institution,” a concerned member of the royal family told ogbomosoinsightonline.com. “Thus, appointment of a new Oba is a critical need of the community to activate developmental drives.”

Meanwhile, Ogbomoso Insight’s investigations revealed various reasons are behind the inability to enthrone a new Oba.

According to findings, lack of a Chieftaincy Declaration by the family is a major setback. There are three ruling houses – Adesi, Ogunremi and Omotajo. “But the gap of unavailability of the Chieftaincy Declaration is filled by the practice of vesting traditional rulership in the oldest man in the family,” another member of the royal family who spoke under the conditions of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak informed ogbomosoinsightonline.com. “However, if the eldest male who would have been conferred with the title of Mogaji declines for any reason, he reserves the right to appoint or nominate whoever he wishes as long as the person is a bonafide member of the family. That is the custom and tradition of the family.”

It was stated this extant tradition was communicated to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters following which a go ahead was given.

So, the Mogaji at the time was said to have nominated one Prince Nathaniel Olayinka, who retired at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as Director General, Fadama Project. His name was reportedly ratified by the kingmakers and was forwarded to the Ogo-Oluwa local government. “But the Mogaji died before the process was concluded. However, the new Mogaji who also declined to rule similarly put forward the name of Prince Nathaniel Olayinka. He passed away too with the process not concluded and the current Mogaji, Prince Prophet Joseph Adegbile, again stood with the choice of Nathaniel Olayinka,” Ogbomoso Insight was told.

But the process is stalled with the blame being put at the feet of the local government by some members of the family who suspected foul play.

“The local government that ought to forward Prince Olayinka’s name to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for ratification or otherwise refuses to do so. That is what our findings at the ministry revealed.”

Meanwhile, it is learnt the Omotajo and Ogunremi families, the two other branches of the royal families, have also nominated a candidate, a Baptist cleric, Rev’d. Dr. Abraham Okunade. When contacted Rev’d Okunade who was reluctant to speak only disclosed the matter is with the council. “I don’t want to speak on Ayede matter please,” he said on phone.

On his part the council chairman Hon Seun Ojo informed the problem is with the family, insisting they could not resolve the matter among themselves, “that is why our hands are tied.”

But sources alleged the local government’s helmsman of deliberate stalling of the process. “It’s like vendetta because of the location of the Federal Polytechnic in Ayede. It is an open secret that the chairman strove to take the institution for his hometown Ajaawa, he even expended huge amount of money on the renovation of Ajaawa Grammar School to get the school ready for the hosting of the polytechnic at its inception but they were bypassed. We learnt they wanted Ayede to cede the hosting right to them or at least be the takeoff campus as temporary site but that was beyond us. That is what we suspected as being the reason for the inertia on the approval of our chieftaincy.”

Another source added, “We also suspected the credentials of our candidate is intimidating and discomfiting to some interests hence the delay. Perhaps, some people wanted a not too educated Alayede who would be a pushover. That is what we also suspected. But the immediate past Alayede was also well read and travelled. So, we don’t want to believe such narrative.”

Unimpressed, the chairman debunked the allegations, arguing, “they are the ones that should get their acts together. The family is locked in controversy over whom to have as Oba. It has nothing to do with us.”