The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said the setting up of a committee to review the appointment and promotion of 75 traditional rulers by immediate past governor Ibikunle Amosun was not to either score cheap political points or witch-hunt the former governor and his loyalists .

Abiodun described the action of the former Governor as unprecedented in the history of traditional council in the state.

He stated this while speaking during the inauguration of the chieftaincy review committee led by the Olu and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, at his Oke-Mosan office, in Abeokuta, on Monday.

The Governor had suspended all the 75 Obas appointed and promoted by Amosun’s government and had set up a review committee to look into the cases to discover whether the process through their emergence and promotion passed through a normal procedure or not .

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Addressing the committee members after the inauguration, Abiodun gave assurance that his administration would not allow any form of assault on the traditional institution or its value.

He said his government places a very high premium on traditional institution and acknowledged the invaluable roles and contributions it plays in promoting good governance at the grassroots.

He decried what he called the unprecedented approval, appointment and upgrade of some chiefs and Baales to coronet Obas, which he said generated reactions from the traditional institution and members of the public.

He added that the setting up of the committee was to address the alleged anomalies.

Abiodun said:

“It will be recalled that the last administration approved the appointments and upgrade of some chieftaincy at the tail end of their administration, notable among these appointments was the upgrade of some Baales to coronet Obas, which is unprecedented in the history of our traditional institution in the State.

“The setting up of this committee should not be seen as an exercise to score cheap political points or witch hunt anyone . But , rather, it should be seen as a token of the seriousness our administration will continue to ascribe to the traditional institution.

“The Committee is to look into whether the appointment or promotion follow the extant laws of the state and due process, identify all the Obas and chiefs whose appointment or promotion fell within the review period as contained in the Ogun State House of Assembly Resolution No 017/2019.

“It is to also identify and address other issues that the committee may consider relevant to the assignment and also make appropriate recommendations to the government.”

Governor Abiodun however, disclosed that his administration would ensure that all chieftaincy matters follow due process and the extant laws.

“We will not only accord them the due respect, but, also ensure that their welfare is well taken care of, in addition, we will ensure that all chieftaincy matters follow due process and extant laws,” he said.

In his response, the chairman of the Committee, disclosed that the committee would do a thorough job by being fair and just.

He added that members would go back to the traditional institution and the people to educate them that government was not out to score cheap political points or on a revenge mission but to put things in their right perspective.

He applauded the governor for taking a bold step to right the wrongs of the past by setting up the committee, adding that the institution and the foundation of culture had been bastardized and destroyed.

Other members of the Committee are the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, Elepe of Epe, Sagamu, Oba Adewale Osiberu, Aro of Egbaland, Chief Yinka Kufile, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Babatunde Oyeti and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Lanre Osota.