Pahayi Community Appeals to Oba Olugbenle Over Baale’s Appointment

The people of Pahayi Community in Yewa South Local Government area of Ogun State have called on the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, and the Olu-in-Council to as a matter of public importance consider the implementation of the Fadairo-led report on Baaleship tussle in Pahayi without delay and support the community’s plan to install a democratically chosen Baale.

The call as contained in a statement signed by the Secretary of the indigenes of the town under the aegis of the Pahayi Connecting Minds

Engr. Alani Akanbi, noted  that the Paramount ruler constituted a committee led by High Chief Fadairo (SAN) to look into the matter about the Baaleship tussle in Pahayi, where all the concerned families and bodies were called upon to give accounts, in which Kuudu, Fayomi & Olugbensi Ruling House of Pahayi was unanimously confirmed as the families to produce the new Baale of Pahayi-Yewa.

However, the non-implementation of the report submitted to His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, by the Fadairo led Committee stalled the process, thus sparking protests in the town recently.

Alani called on Paramount Ruler not to be afraid of any group of people to do the right thing at the right time, adding: “You are the paramount ruler of Yewaland, and father of all.

He said it is the turn of Kuudu Family to nominate the candidate for the throne and  this has been approved by the consenting authority to the stool according to the provisions of the Pahayi Chieftaincy rules.

The secretary said by tradition and custom of Pahayi, only a person who is of Pahayi origin and or descendants of Kuudu as the prescribed authority could be made Baale of Pahayi.

He added that the history of Pahayi confirmed the tradition and affirmed that the Baale of Pahayi shall be of Pahayi/Kuudu descendant /origin.

The association however, expressed concern that many years after the demise of the Late Baale, the Paramount Ruler was yet to appoint  and give instrument of office to the new Baale of Pahayi land.

According to Alani, the continued recognition of the Igbimo Ilu Pahayi without a Baale amounted to an outright denial of the community’s inalienable right to determine and select substantive traditional ruler of the town.

He said the continued nonexistence of the traditional ruler had created mistrust and disaffection in the area, resulting to bottled-up anger that is capable of causing breakdown of law and order.

While appealing to the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, and the Olu-in-Council to consider Pahayi Baaleship in the next chieftancy ceremony to be held in April this year, urged Oba Olugbenle to check the records, the association alleged that some powerful individuals in Pahayi and environs had compromised with some Government officials to subvert the wish of the people of the community, but we believe in your authority and what you stand for, that justice shall prevail.