RESIDENTS of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have protested against an alleged plan by the state government to dethrone the Ataoja of Osogbo, Jimoh Oyetunji.
The protesters were seen marching through Osogbo metropolis before converging at the state government secretariat on Thursday.
Armed with various placards, the protesters led by the leader of Osogbo village heads Jimoh Buraimo, accused the Governor Isiaka Gboyega-led state government of witch-hunting the traditional ruler.
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The placards had inscriptions such as ‘Don’t cause confusion and violence in Osogbo’, ‘Stop attempt to depose Oba Jimoh Oyetunji,’ amongst others.
Addressing journalists, Buraimo alleged that clandestine moves by the government to depose Oba Oyetunji without any just cause were hinged on a legal tussle between the monarch and one of the ruling houses in Osogbo.
The chief warned that the plot could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
“The current attempt being made by the state government is capable of disrupting the existing peace in Osogbo and Osun State in general,” he said.
“It is equally an attempt to usurp the power and function of the judiciary to adjudicate on the matter currently pending in the court of law and it is highly prejudicial to and contemptuous of the process of the honourable court of Osun State.
“It is to be noted that we cannot accept this unlawful attempt which will portray Osun State Government as highly insensitive and blind to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Osun State.”
He added that the institution of Ataoja of Osogbo is the custodian of the city’s traditional heritage, stating that an attempt to illegally remove the occupant of the office is an “affront on our traditional inheritance which shall be resisted legally”.
Buraimoh vowed that Osogbo indigenes would not allow moves to remove the monarch, adding that they are ready to resist the conspiracy to cause disunity, chaos, violence and disharmony in the state.
However, the Osun State Government has dismissed reports of the alleged plot to remove the monarch.
In a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, the government warned against peddling falsehoods capable of inciting the people against the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Omipidan described allegation that the governor planned to remove the Ataoja as an attempt by agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pitch the people against the governor and his government.
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