By Johnson Nwankwo
The Enugu State government has disclaimed one Mr Alhaji Abdulazeez Adebayo Olateju as the new Oba of Yoruba community in the state.
According to a statement by the state Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs on Wednesday, no person was adopted as the Oba of Yoruba community, adding that the meeting between the Yoruba community and the ministry aimed at brokering peace was still in progress.
Ifeoma Ogbu, the ministry’s Head, Public Relations Unit, said the disclaimer became necessary following claims by one Mr Abdulazeez Adebayo Olateju that he was adopted as the Oba of Yoruba community in Enugu State.
Ogbu said the ministry held a conflict resolution meeting with the Yoruba community stakeholders in Enugu State on 20th of August, 2024 on the Obaship issue, adding that, “No person was adopted during the meeting but a peace building process was initiated by the ministry.”
Our correspondent gathered that the meeting, presided over by the ministry’s Commissioner, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, had resolved to engage in further consultations to ensure a peaceful resolution of the Obaship crisis.
Ogbodo, it was gathered, warned that anybody parading himself as the Oba of Yoruba community in Enugu State should desist from doing so or face the wrath of the law.
News had emerged that Olateju, from Osun State, had emerged as the first Yoruba Oba in Enugu after 45 years of living in Southeast.
He had claimed that his emergence was a resolution of the Yoruba elders following tussles which had delayed the process.
On how he was chosen, Adebayo said the process entailed looking for somebody with a good record, good behaviour, and who could take care of his people, adding that the person must also be trustworthy and ensure quality representation of Yoruba people in the state.
According to him, some people indicated an interest in contesting for the position in 2018, explaining that after the screening, a report about the aspirants was submitted to the Yoruba community.
Quoting him, “We lost about three persons in the process of waiting to choose who will be our Oba.
“This is what the Yoruba elders saw and decided to bring a neutral person who is trusted and I was called upon to take the position.
“I came to Enugu on February 7, 1979, and since then, I have lived peacefully in the state.”
