By Adeola Omolabake, Ijebu Ode
Strange deaths and illness have hit Ode Omi community in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, reports The Gazelle News.com.
In recent time, five youths in the community have died mysteriously which precipitated an emergency security meeting organised for stakeholders in the community last weekend.
At the meeting, the people lamented the strange deaths and illness. They also cried out that the issues have grounded economic activities in the community with residents living in fear and sometime refusing to come out of their houses.
The community at the emergency stakeholders forum attributed the developments to the gross violation of the culture and traditions of the community by the Caretaker Chairman of Ogun Waterside Local Government, Femi Onanuga.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the Oshodi of Ode Omi, Chief Oluwole Opele, some elderly men and women said the trouble began following the desperation by the council boss to impose an Oba on the community.
According to Chief Opele, the community want the process to install a new Oba suspended until the rites for the late Oba are completed.
He said the claim by the Chairman that the rites for the late Oba had been completed was a blatant lie.
One of the resolutions at the stakeholder meeting was the directive to four women to meet with the Chairman on Monday, 18 January, 2021.
The former Oba Adenuga Okunniyi Ojafoyewa 2, joined his ancestors in June 2019.
The community therefore appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona who is the custodian of tradition and culture of Ijebuland to prevail on the council boss not to rewrite the culture and traditional heritage of the community by his action.
However when contacted the council boss Femi Onanuga said the necessary rites to ease the passage of late Oba had been concluded.
He also disclosed that he had met with title Chiefs from the community but in contrary the Oloros and Osugbos were yet to be duly informed.