Youths of Ibule community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State have kicked against the alleged plan to impose a traditional ruler on the locals.
The youths armed with placards in their hundreds stormed the local government secretariat in Igbara-Oke to register their grievances over the alleged move.
Some of the placards on display during the protest read, “The Youths Needs An Elected King”, “All We Want Is An Open and Peaceful Election” “Mr. Chairman, Don’t Allow Fraudsters To Dent Your Image”, among others.
It was gathered that since the demise of the community’s monarch, seven contestants have shown interest in the vacant stool.
The Youth Leader, Adewale Adelegan, who led the protesters to the office of the Local Government Chairman, expressed worry over recent happenings in the community.
He alleged that some individuals have perfected plans to politicize and impose one of the candidates on them.
Adelegan added that the community expects that the process of selection of the new Oba should be open, free and fair, stressing that politicizing the process will create avoidable chaos in the community.
While disclosing that news has filtered into the community that there is a plan to appoint a particular contestant who is the anointed candidate of an APC stalwart in the state as the new monarch, he emphasized that the move would be resisted.
Responding to their allegation, the local government boss, Alex Oladimeji assured that the government will follow due process in all matters that relate to the election of a new monarch for the community.
Oladimeji who restated the need for all parties to come together and form a united front said he was happy at the youth’s peaceful conduct.
He, however, assured them that there was no need for name-calling, saying he would inform the appropriate quarters to take up necessary steps as to kick start the process of electing a new monarch.
