‘Why Ijebu stool remains vacant for 18 years’

Ogun State Government on Wednesday advanced reasons why Ijebu Igbo has remained without a traditional ruler in the past 18 years, linking it to the several cases in the courts.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Muyiwa Oladipo, who stated this, particularly mentioned the matter pending at the Supreme Court.
Oladipo said the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration, which had respect for the rule of law, would not want to take any arbitrary action on the matter.
The Orimolusi of Ijebu stool has been vacant in the past 18 years following litigation by the various claimants to the traditional throne.
Many indigenes of the town have blamed the state government for the inability of the town to have a monarch.
But Oladipo said the state government would approve a monarch for the town as soon as the case at the Supreme Court over the stool had been decided.
The commissioner stressed that the state government could not take any step on the matter as families and groups claiming right to occupy the Orimolusi throne had yet to resolve their differences either in court or otherwise.
The commissioner said, “It is true that there was a judgment at the court of appeal in Ibadan sometimes last year. But that has been appealed against at the Supreme Court and until after the determination of the case, we can’t do anything regarding the installation of the monarch.
“We have no any other interest but that of the rule of law; I can boldly assure you that we will not waste any time after the Supreme Court judgment. The Olu of Ilaro stool and so many others were vacant for years and to the glory of God, we have been able to resolve most of them.
“No one should blame a government that has spent less than two years in office for a stool that has been vacant for 18 years.”
Oladipo, therefore, urged the different families and groups making claims to the Orimolusi throne to resolve the matter amicably and come together in the interest of peace and progress.