The residents of Erekiti-Luwoye, a community in the Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, have voiced strong opposition to the appointment of Mathew Kejawa as their traditional leader.
Kejawa, who hails from Ikoya, has no ancestral ties to Erekiti-Luwoye, which the community sees as a critical issue in this leadership dispute.
According to Starnews, the people of Erekiti-Luwoye argued that their community has historically been led by individuals from the Lemegha clan, one of the four founding ancestral groups of the Osooro Kingdom.
They emphasized that Kejawa’s forebears are not part of this lineage, making his appointment unacceptable.
The community has had seven rulers, all from the Lemegha clan, including their late monarch, Kowe, whose leadership was recognized by the state’s Chieftaincy Commission.
Protesters from Erekiti-Luwoye are also accusing the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of corruption, alleging they accepted bribes to impose Kejawa on the community.
They claimed that the government’s actions are a violation of their traditions, and they refuse to acknowledge Kejawa’s claim to the throne.
Community leaders have warned that any attempt to install Kejawa as their leader will be met with strong resistance.
They demanded that all actions related to the chieftaincy, unless aligned with the Lemegha clan, be halted to prevent unrest.
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