Ogun State Government has read the riot act to individuals parading themselves illegally as an Oba in the state, noting that the unwholesome and illegal practice is becoming rampant.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Afolabi Afuape condemned the rise in the practice saying they unilaterally declare themselves as monarchs of some communities in the state without government approval.
He has therefore enjoined members of the public to report any individual found parading himself illegally as an Oba to the nearest Police station and the Ministry for necessary profiling and prosecution as appropriate to serve as deterrent to other impostors.
Afuape in a press release yesterday insisted that the present administration would not allow the unwholesome development to desecrate the sacred institution of Kingship.
He also noted that the practice bothered on lawlessness with attendant compromisation of the security of lives and property of the people.
Afuape said no one could be made a monarch without the consent of the government in any society, adding that in Ogun State the selection and coronation of a monarch are always published in the official gazette of the state government.
He maintained that any monarch whose appointment has not been published in the gazette is an ‘illegal Oba’ and an impostor.
The Commissioner said such illegal monarch risks prosecution in a competent Court of Law as provided in section 23 sub-section 2 (a-d) of the Obas and Chiefs, Council of Obas and Traditional Council Laws of the State.
