Senator Sunday Karimi.

Monarchs from the Egbe part of Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State have called on the Governor of the State, Usman Ododo, to prevail on the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Sunday Karimi, to stop interfering with and altering the traditional processes to fill vacant royal stool(s) and chieftaincies.

Speaking on behalf of a group of traditional chiefs in Lokoja on Friday, the Ighare of Okoa, His Royal Highness Oba Adedoyin Bolaji, said that as one of the long-ruling traditional chiefs in Yagba West and the oldest in tenure in Egbe, he holds the privilege, as part of his functions and duties, to understand the technicalities of installing vacant stool(s) in Egbe, Yagba West, and Yagba generally.

The traditional chiefs accused the Senator of getting involved in every outstanding stool.

They said that the Ighare Ijalu is due for reinstallation since the last occupant went to be with his ancestors almost 2 years ago, and two candidates have come forward to present their interests.

According to them, the names of the interested candidates for the Ighare Ijalu are Sunday Oluokun and Biodun Daudu; they argued that Sunday Oluokun’s nomination is not in tandem with the tradition because he is from the same family from the immediate past Ighare Ijalu and that the tradition prohibits double succession.

They added that the immediate past Ighare Ijalu spent 41 years on the stool, that it is only normal for Biodun Daudu to represent his side of the family as it is their turn, and he is the only one interested.

They emphasized that Egbe is made up of 12 clans/villages, of which the Ighares rule 6 and the Eyin Odis rule 6. While the Eyin Odis have their own system, the Ighares use a rotational system, where the stool is filled by another family.

The majority of the paramount rulers who are vehemently against double succession also allege oppression and intimidation from Senator Sunday Karimi and his rumoured candidate, Sunday Oluokun.

According to them, thugs suspected to be sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi and Sunday Oluokun attacked them, shooting guns, throwing stones and bottles into the compound of Biodun Daudu, damaging the vehicle of Ologun of Odo Owo, former Chairman of Yagba West Local Government, Hon. (Chief) Gbenga Asagun, while he also sustained an injury.

Other Obas who were also attacked by the thugs and hooligans are the Oba of Okoha, Oba Adedoyin Bolaji; Oba of Ilemla, Oba Victor Rotimi Dada; Oba of Ijagan, Oba Ore Abolade and Oba of Ido Egbe, Oba Odofin Babalola.

Several Ologuns who were also attacked are the Ologun of Iloko, who is also the Secretary of the Egbe Council of Traditional Chiefs, and Chief Dare Folorunsho amongst others.

The traditional chiefs call on the general public to hold Senator Sunday Karimi and Sunday Oluokun if any insecurity befalls them, as they can’t sleep with their two eyes closed in Egbe, they had to seek refuge in Lokoja.

It was also reported that Sunday Oluokun led thugs to break into the conclave for irregular coronation, only to be rejected by the Egbe Council of Traditional Chiefs because the process was not followed.

They urged the Governor to intervene so that Senator Sunday Karimi and his alleged candidate would not use power and money to distort the fair tradition of rotation to fill vacant stools as practised by the Ighares.