Chief Yomi Alliyu SAN has vowed to seek legal redress to stop the installation of a former Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), retired Lt-General Abdulrahman Dambazau, as the Jagunmolu of Edeland.
The legal luminary stated this in a release, declaring that the chieftaincy title is not vacant and, therefore, it cannot be given to another person.
Alliyu stated in the release, titled “Jagunmolu Of Edeland Is Not Vacant”, that he is the rightful Jagunmolu of Edeland, having been installed in March, 1999 by the late Timi of Edeland, Oba Tijani Oyedokun Agbonran II.
He further claimed that the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, was in attendance during his installation as the Jagunmolu of Edeland.
He therefore expressed shock that a decision would be taken to install another Jagunmolu of Edeland when he is still very much alive.
“The news going round the media that General Abdulrahman B. Dambazzau is going to be conferred with the Jagunmolu of Edeland came with a rude shock as the chieftaincy is not vacant.
“Chief Yomi Alliyu SAN was installed as the Jagunmolu of Edeland since March 1999 by Kaabiyesi HRM Oba Tijanni Oyedokun Agbonran II, the then Timi of Edeland, with HRM Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the late Ooni Ife, in attendance.
“We have set in motion judicial process to correct the anomaly, should the current Timi, who I hold in high esteem, insists on going forward with the said installation of our highly reverred General Dambazzau,” he stated.
Chief Alliyu adduced politics as the reason for the reported decision of the incumbent Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, to install Dambazau as the Jagunmolu.
“We can think of no reason for appointing another to a post held by me other than that I defended my client, Governor Isiaka Oyetola (former governor of Osun State), in the last election.
“As a person that supports the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) time, I could not do otherwise,” Alliyu further stated.
The Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, was reported to have been preparing to install Dambazau as the Jagunmolu (meaning somebody who fought and conquer).
The installation, it was reported, will be held on June 7 as part of activities lined up to commemorate the 15th Coronation Anniversary of the Timi of Edeland.
According to the report in some sections of the media, the decision to install the former CoAS as the Jagunmolu of Edeland was announced by Professor Tajudeen Akanji, the chairman of the Planning Committee, in Ile-Ife.
Akanji stated that General Dambazau has distinguished himself as a personality with a remarkable track record of service and leadership.
