The Orokere Amuro Traditional Council of Chiefs and the entire people of Orokere-Amuro, have expressed strong objection to the proposed choice of Takete Ide as the headquarters of Amuro Local Government in the draft memo for the creation of Okun State.
Orokere-Amuro has the largest population as one of the seven constituent communities that made up Amuro in the Okun community, Kogi West Senatorial District of Kogi State, Nigeria.
The community raised the objection in a letter addressed to the President-General of Okun Development Association (ODA)), signed by the President of Orokere Welfare Association (OWA), Comrade Olusegun Peter, and made available to Journalists on Monday in Lokoja.
The community expressed strong objection to the proposal, citing historical, traditional, and administrative reasons.
According to the community, Orokere Amuro is the historical head and de facto headquarters of Amuro, with a well-established hierarchical order among its seven constituent communities.
The community argued that the proposal to make Takete Ide the headquarters disregards historical precedence, natural order, and threatens long-standing harmony among the communities.
The community requested the Okun Development Association (ODA) to conduct an objective fact-finding mission into the history, traditional hierarchy, and socio-political setup of Amuro.
The association also requested that the proposal designating Takete Ide as headquarters be revised and Kajola, a location between Orokere-Amuro (old site) and Aiyede-Ile be proposed as a neutral and central location for the headquarters.
The community expressed concern that the ODA may have based its proposal on inadequate consultation or biased inputs, and called for wider and inclusive stakeholder engagement to prevent perceived injustice.
The Orokere community believed that Kajola, being geographically central and free of controversy, is a more suitable location for the headquarters.
The community, therefore urged ODA Leadership to uphold the principles of objectivity, fairness, justice, and inclusivity in this critical matter, which could affect the peaceful future of Amuro and Okun Land at large.
The community expressed appreciation for the good work of the ODA and assured the association of its continuous support and commitment to great ideals.
The letter reads: “On behalf of the Orokere Amuro Traditional Council of Chiefs and the entire people of Orokere-Amuro, we wish to express our sincere appreciation for the commendable efforts of the Okun Development Association (ODA) in championing the progress, unity, and sustainable development of our dear Okun Land.
“May the Almighty God continue to strengthen and prosper the Association and all of Okun Land, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“However, we, the entire community of Orokere Amuro firmly and unequivocally express very strong objection to the choice of Takete Ide as the proposed headquarters of Amuro Local Government, as contained in the draft memo presented to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.
“This proposal, in our view, constitutes a distortion of the historical, traditional, and administrative structure that has long guided the peaceful coexistence of the Amuro communities.
“Amuro is a historically structured entity with clear a and well-established hierarchical order among its seven (7) constituent communities, namely:
1. Orokere, 2. Takete Ide
3. Aiyedayo/Oroke
4. Aiyeteju Agbajogun
5. Aiyede
6. Otafun
7. Okagi.
“This traditional order has guided not only the socio-political administration of Amuro but also the distribution of resources, traditional and non-traditional, among these communities.
“Orokere-Amuro stands as the historical head and de facto headquarters of Amuro, a status that is incontrovertible and well recognized both in history, tradition and governance.
“It is, therefore, disturbing and highly unacceptable that ODA would propose Takete Ide as the headquarters of the proposed Amuro Local Government.
“Such a move disregards historical precedence, natural order, threatens long-standing harmony, and risks igniting unnecessary acrimony and in-fighting among the communities that have lived peacefully for generations.
“Orokere Amuro is the oldest, the most populous, and the largest community in Amuro. It is also the first among equals in Amuro, with the Oba of Orokere ranking the highest among the Obas in Amuro after the Alamuro of Amuro, who is the overall traditional head.
“If history is to be the guiding principle for the selection of an Amuro headquarters, Orokere is the clear choice. If population and size are the criteria, Orokere remains the most deserving.
“And in case geographical centrality is the consideration, we submit that Kajola, a location between Orokere-Amuro (old site) and Aiyede-Ile—presents a more central and equitable alternative.
“Therefore, we are deeply concerned that ODA may have based its proposal on inadequate consultation or possibly biased inputs from a narrow perspective of certain individuals or groups who are not well grounded in the history and traditions of Amuro.
“We believe that wider and inclusive stakeholder engagement would have prevented this perceived injustice.
In light of the above, we respectfully request the following:
1. That your Office conducts an objective fact-finding mission into the history, traditional hierarchy, and socio-political setup of Amuro.
2. That the proposal designating Takete Ide as headquarters of Amuro Local Government be immediately revised.
3. That Kajola be proposed as a neutral and central location for the headquarters of Amuro, being both geographically appropriate and free of controversy.
“We trust in your capacity to uphold the principles of objectivity, fairness, justice, and inclusivity in this critical matter, which affects the peaceful future of Amuro and Okun Land at large.
“While looking forward to a positive action on the above requests, we wish to register our deep appreciation for the good work the Association is doing. Please be assured of our continuous support and commitments to great ideals of ODA”.
CC:
HRM. Oba Solomon Owoniyi, the Obaro of Kabba, Chairman, Okun Traditional Council
HRM Oba Dr. Muyiwa Ibeun JP, the Elulu of Mopa, Chairman, Mopamuro Traditional Council
HRM. Oba Alfred Modupe Ayedogbon, the Alamuro of Amuro
Distinguished Senator Sunday Karimi, the Senator Representing Kogi West
Rt. Hon. Elder Leke Abejide, The House of Representative Member representing Yagba Constituency
Yours faithfully,
Comrade Peter Olusegun S.
President, Orokere Welfare Association