Fresh controversy has enveloped the process of selecting a new traditional ruler for Kobape Town in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, as concerned indigenes of Oba in Egbaland have rejected the nomination of Chief Tolu Lambert Oyesiku Taylor for the vacant stool of the Olu of Kobape.
The aggrieved stakeholders, operating under the umbrella of the Obaland Descendants Indigenous People in Egbaland, alleged that due process was not followed in the nomination process and accused former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, of making a unilateral decision without adequate consultation with key stakeholders and community representatives.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the group said it had petitioned the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, over what it described as a flawed nomination process that failed to accommodate the views of Obaland chiefs, elders, youths, and descendants of the Oba and Obamode lineage.
According to the statement, the nomination of Chief Taylor contradicted earlier assurances allegedly given by Chief Osoba that all interested candidates would undergo proper screening and evaluation before any decision was reached. The stakeholders maintained that the people of Obaland expected a transparent, inclusive, and credible process in filling the stool left vacant following the death of the late Olu of Kobape, Oba Olufemi Taylor, more than five years ago.
The group also opposed what it described as an attempt to retain the stool within the Taylor family, arguing that there is no established hereditary royal lineage system in Obaland dating back to the community's origins in Egbaland. They further contended that imposing any candidate without broad-based community support would be unfair, particularly when there are other aspirants whom they described as qualified and deeply committed to the development of Kobape.
Among those mentioned by the group as preferred candidates are Chief Olusegun Majekodunmi, popularly known as 'Ajameta,' and Chief Babatunde Solomon Olusi (JP), both of whom were commended for their contributions to community development and youth empowerment.
The stakeholders urged kingmakers and relevant authorities to consider only candidates with proven records of service to the community, warning that the emergence of an unfamiliar candidate could encourage money politics, external influence, and leadership disconnected from local realities. They further warned that any attempt to force through the nomination without broad acceptance could generate avoidable tension and unrest within Kobape and neighbouring communities.
The group also argued that the nomination process did not align with the customs and traditions of Egbaland and was allegedly inconsistent with the chieftaincy laws guiding the selection of traditional rulers in Ogun State. Consequently, they called on the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland to intervene urgently to ensure fairness, justice, and adherence to due process.
The stakeholders equally appealed to the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as other relevant government agencies, to investigate and nullify what they described as the unilateral nomination of Chief Tolu Lambert Oyesiku Taylor. They alleged that Chief Taylor had informed some community members that his nomination was concluded in the United Kingdom through the involvement of Chief Olusegun Osoba and Chief Damoye Oyesiku before wider consultations were held among stakeholders in Obaland.
While reiterating their commitment to peace and unity in Kobape, the concerned indigenes urged all authorities involved in the process to take steps capable of preserving harmony and preventing actions that could destabilise the community.
