Ute Stakeholders Challenge Olute Selection Process, Demand Proper Appointment of Kingmakers
Ute Stakeholders Challenge Olute Selection Process, Demand Proper Appointment of Kingmakers
Olute of Ute kingdom is a first class stool in Ose Local Government of Ondo State. The stool became vacant after Oba Oluwole Akinrogbe 1 joined his forefathers. Subsequently, the community leaders and well meaning Ute Sons and Daughters had tried to make presentations to the state government due to certain peculiarities woven around who and who are entitled to the throne. Ute as a town patistipated in Morgan Chieftaincy Commission but till date the white paper has not been registered. The effect by law is that Ute does not have an registered chieftaincy declaration.
What is an approved and registered Chietancy Declaration.
An approved and registered Chieftaincy declaration shows that a town has presented to the state government chieftaincy commission the followings.
1. The family name or names of the ruling house or houses of the town
2. The number of ruling houses
3. The gender of persons entitled to aspire to the throne
4. The number and names of kingmakers.
5. The procedure to be adopted in selecting an Olute of Ute.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A TOWN DOES NOT HAVE AN APPROVED AND REGISTERED CHIEFTAINCY DECLARATION
An approved chieftaincy declaration needed to be registered. Ute has an approved chieftaincy declaration of 1981 during the reign of Oba Adedolapo Omoloja but was not registered till today as required by law, for the chieftaincy declaration to come into force and be enforceable.
Effects of non registration of an approved chieftaincy declaration
1. The chieftaincy declaration is null and void and cannot be used for any purpose.
2. The approved but not registered chieftaincy declaration can not be used in selection process due to non registration as required by the Chiefs law of Ondo State.
3. The approved but not registered Chieftaincy declaration can not be registered during an interregnum. An interregnum is a period when there is no king on throne in a town.
4. The kingmakers mentioned in the approved but not registered chieftaincy declaration are not registered. Because the contents of the chieftaincy declaration are not registered.
5. The Chiefs appointed presently were names of chiefs mentioned as kingmakers in the Olute of Ute Chieftaincy declaration but it must be noted that these chiefs were appointed then but are not traditionally kingmakers.
6. It is wrong to refer to those chiefs as at then or anyone holding the title presently as kingmakers.
THE OLUTE OF UTE CHIEFTAINCY
Presently the ancient agrarian town of Ute is apprehensive of happenings on the selection process of a new Olute of Ute. The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, under the office of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State and the Ose Local Government are principal actors as regulators of the selection process of Olute of Ute. The selection process has been on for more than six months but one clear message is that Olute of Ute Chieftaincy declaration, which contains Ute Chieftaincy declaration was approved but not registered hence the Olute of Ute Chieftaincy declaration can not be used in this ongoing selection process.
The consequential effect is that no part of the content of the unregistered Olute of Ute Chieftaincy can be used or referred to.
WHO ARE THE PERSONS OR FAMILIES APPOINTED AS KINGMAKERS IN THIS ONGOING OLUTE OF UTE SELECTION PROCESS
THEY ARE THE PERSONS OR FAMILIES MENTIONED IN THE UNREGISTERED OLUTE OF UTE CHIEFTAINCY DECLARATION
WHY? The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, under the office of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State and the Ose Local Government will give us the best answer.
WHO PRESENTED THE KINGMAKERS MENTIONED IN THE UNREGISTERED Olute of Ute Chieftaincy declaration TO THE MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS ONDO STATE OR WHY WOULD THEY PICK KINGMAKERS FROM AN UNREGISTERED DOCUMENT.
Obviously since the commencement of the selection of the new Olute of Ute, none of The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, under the office of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State and the Ose Local Government had engaged the town as a whole. All we have is a particular set of ruling house were continously been seen indirectly dictating the pace of events.
The Ute council of chiefs, and stakeholders in Ute had not had any meaningful audience except when a letter had been issued, directing the local government to conduct the selection of Olute that the Local Government Chairman deemed it fit to invite the Ute Chief in Council, stakeholders, ruling houses and the aspirants. Most meetings have been selectively tailored towards a particular ruling house. We all understand the judgement being used by the ruling house. But we have embrace peace for the development of Ute.
OUR CONCERNS
Since we can’t use the Olute Of Ute Chieftaincy declaration, we can not use the kingmakers mentioned therein.
Olute of Ute Chieftaincy declaration must be registered, which was not done. Making the Ute Chieftaincy declaration null and void.
The procedure should have being to invite the Ute Council of Chiefs and stakeholders of Ute Kingdom to meet and present an odd number of respected chiefs who shall be kingmakers for this process.
The fact that the names of the presently approved kingmakers are same names on the unregistered Ute Chieftaincy declaration disqualifies them from being appointed as kingmakers.
The persons or chiefs mentioned in the Olute of Ute Chieftaincy declaration can only be regarded as kingmakers if the Olute of Ute Chieftaincy declaration was registered, therefore, they can not claim to have been appointed as kingmakers before the demise of the last Olute of Ute.
This is simple, the document which could have confer the status of Kingmakers on them was not registered. They were only parading themselves as kingmakers before now because they had the knowledge that their family chief had been presented to Morgan Chieftaincy Review Commission and approved but they never knew it was not registered.
We understand it is within the power of government to appoint kingmakers but such persons must be presented to government appropriately.
Therefore referring to the presently appointed kingmakers is as good as using the unregistered Olute of Ute Chieftaincy declaration
OUR PLEA
THE NEXT OLUTE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF UTE AND WE ARE PLEADING WITH GOVERNMENT TO PLEASE LISTEN TO US NOT JUST
THE ASPIRANTS or RULING HOUSES, UTE BELONGS TO US ALL.
LET THE PROPER PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTING KINGMAKERS BE DONE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL OF RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS.
These may generate issues later, especially when all ruling houses had agreed to allow peace to reign as requested by all well meaning members of the community.
Thank you
E-signed
Olugbenga Adedugbe Esq
Writes from Ute. Kingdom.
