CHIEFS, elders, women and youths from three out of the four communities in Ososo Town, Akoko Edo LGA, have recently lent their strong support for the need for all the federating communities in Ososo to be granted official autonomy at a recent inter-communal engagement. This became more imperative as some individuals seek to usurp the traditional legitimacy and arrogate to themselves powers they do not possess in clear subjudice of ongoing court proceedings on suit No: B/1316/2022 at the Edo State High Court of Justice.
They therefore merged their councils and launched the “ Joint Council of Chiefs” a tripartite arrangement consisting of three out of the four communities. The four communities have operated independently of each other since 1938, culturally, economically, in the administration of land, each with well-defined borders, and have co-existed as separate entities.
Therefore, the inter-communal engagement put together by the Elders and Chiefs from Anni, Egbetua and Ikpena communities respectively, otherwise known as Joint Council of Chiefs was attended by all the Chiefs, opinion leaders, women leaders, youths and the members of the intelligentsia from the three communities of ANNI, EGBETUA AND IKPENA in Ososo under the leadership of the paramount Chief, the Oku’Ososogbe of Ososo, Chief Buoro Ajayi Buoro.
Chiefs and elders from the three communities arrived the Palace of the Oku’Ososogbe’s palace for the all-important-engagement with the economic, social, cultural, security and educational advancement of the three communities as the key issues discussed.
The business of the day was signposted by the signing of a communique and then dovetailed into an atmosphere of conviviality as attendees were lavishly entertained to sumptuous meals, drinks and a carnival-like display by the youths, women, masquerades with the special appearance of ‘Ogbugburu’, the custodian masquerade from the ancestral lineage of the Oku’Ososogbe.
The masquerade regaled the audience with some regal yet energetic and pulsating performances rendering prayers at every turn.
Chief Peter Momoh, Idu’ Oreme Osese 1 the Head chief from Egbetua community who spoke to the media after the engagement said the autonomy of Ososo is as old as the town itself because all the communities that migrated to settle in Ososo about two centuries ago came as distinct people with well defined leadership which is reflected in the independent elders Council in each of the communities.
He also cited community ownership and administration of its land as another strong indication of the the autonomous status of the communities that constitute Ososo as a town. He however prayed for the prosperity of the Joint Council of Chiefs and an enduring peace in the land of Ososo.
Pa Aiyero Alabi, another community leader from Ikpena said: “it is only those who have sinister motives that would speak against the autonomy of the communities in Ososo as a town”. Autonomy he said is not division, fragmentation or balkanisation rather he said autonomy is recognising the rights of every community to continue to pilot its affairs (administrative, cultural, economical etc) without interference from any quarter while maintaining all ties to promote cooperation among the other communities. He however sent a note of warning to those elements who continue to fan the embers discord in Ososo.
Pa Monday Bello, a renown community leader from Anni said, Anni community in is full support of autonomy for the each community and he charged, and that Anni as the oldest community in Ososo will support all efforts to promote and develop the communities at a faster pace which he believes autonomy will adequately address.
The communique issued by Elders and Chiefs-in-Council of Anni, Egbetua and Ikpena Communities on the 28th January, 2024 resolved as follows;
1. Reject and condemn in its entirety the illegal and purported traditional installation of Pharmacist Bamidele Obaitan as the Olososo of Ososo by Chief Buoro Ochiedu and his cohorts in Ohke community.
2. Calls on the Governor of Edo State and other relevant agencies of government not to accord any form of recognition to the illegal traditional installation of Bamidele Obaitan as the Olososo of Ososo which was done during the pendency of Suit No.: B/1316/2022 and in contravention of the custom and tradition of Ososo Clan.
3. The elders and Chiefs-in-Council of the three communities of Ani, Ikpena and Egbetua fully supports the autonomy of each of the four communities that make up the Ososo Clan with a Joint Council of Chiefs under the leadership of Chief Buoro Ajayi Buoro as the Oku’Ososogbe.
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