As tension continue to mount in Iraye Community in Ode-Remo, a town in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State over the Nloku throne, members of the royal family and traditional title holders in the town are now appealing to the Ogun State government and the Council mof Obas and Chiefs in the state to wade into the matter and ensure that the dethroned Oba of the community leaves the palace for peace to return to the agrarian community ahead of the festive season.
The concerned stakeholders of Iraye are also urging relevant authorities to ensure that a judgement of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, which halted the reign of the traditional ruler of the community, the Nloku of Iraye-Ode Remo, Oba Olatunji Kalejaiye, is obeyed without further delay. Elders and members of the Sugbada royal family of Iraye-Ode Remo, are worried that the continued stay of Kalejaiye in the palace, in defiance to the court ruling, is a provocative action.
Traditional title holders in the community, joined by members of the royal family, during a peaceful protest in the ancient town, urged the state government and security agents to prevail on Kalejaiye and his backers to respect the sanctity of the judiciary and avoid a breakdown of law and order in the community. They also appealed to Oba Adewale Ajayi, the Akarigbo of Remoland, to hearken to the desire of the people of Iraye and withdraw his support for Kalejaiye who has been deposed by the court.
“We hear that Kalejaiye is going about saying he has the backing of Akarigbo to remain in office. He went to Abeokuta and told them the same thing. We are begging Akarigbo to openly wash his hands off Kalejaiye and tell the whole world that he is not supporting this evil in Iraye. We want peace in Iraye and that is why we are calling on all and sundry to help us. There is a judgement of the Appeal Court. There was a judgement in 2015 that removed him too. He should respect the people and leave the palace,” the said.
Ruling on the case (Appeal No: CA/1B/255/2015 Suit No: HCS/65/2019, an appeal filed by Kalejaiye against his deposition in 2015 by a State High Court sitting in Sagamu, Ogun East Senatorial District, the Justices of the Appeal Court, led by Hon. Justice Moore A. A. Adumein, ruled that “the appeal lacked merit and is hereby dismissed. The Judgment of Hon. Justice Olugbenga Ogunfowora is hereby affirmed.
Justice Ogunfowora had in 2015, in the judgment in the legal action challenging the enthronement of Kalejaiye, declared his ascendancy to the throne as illegal, ultra vires, null and void and asked him to vacate the stool immediately. The judge also ordered the Ogun State Government, the Attorney-General, Remo North Local Government and chiefs of the town, to stop recognizing Kalejaiye as the Nloku of Iraye-Ode Remo town in Remo North Local Government Area of the state.
Directing the kingmakers to immediately convene a meeting to consider nominees for the throne from the Sugbada ruling house, which is the rightful of the ruling households in the town, to produce the next king, the Judge averred that there is no mention of any Sugbodo ruling house in the gazette that empowers the selection of the Nloku of Iraye-Ode Remo. Although his nomination and selection by the kingmakers were challenged by the Sugbada ruing house, which argued that he was not a member of the ruling arm, the state government went ahead to inaugurate Kalejaiye in 2009, prompting the legal action.
Elders and members of the royal family vowed to remain law abiding while hoping that justice would be done swiftly in the matter. “We are appealing to our revered Akarigbo to withdraw his support for the deposed monarch so that peace will return to Iraye. We also call on the government and security agencies to ensure that the court order is obeyed,” the release read in part.
The royal family however said there is no way they will wait forever if something is not done to call Kalejaiye and his backers to order. “We are the ones prevailing on the youths of the town to maintain peace. But tradition is something we must not joke with. Government should please help us to maintain peace in Iraye. The people want their own king, not an impostor,” they appealed.
