The Enugu State government has officially disowned claims made by Alhaji Abdulazeez Adebayo that he has been adopted as the Oba of the Yoruba Community in the state. The state government clarified that no such adoption took place, contrary to recent viral news reports.
On Wednesday, the Enugu State government issued a disclaimer through the Head of the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogbu Ifeoma.
The government responded to claims made by Alhaji Abdulazeez Adebayo, who had announced himself as the newly adopted Oba of the Yoruba Community in Enugu.
Adebayo, who is originally from Osun State, had reportedly stated that he was the first-ever Oba for the Yoruba community in Enugu. He also mentioned that the Yoruba community in Enugu includes people from states such as Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, Kogi, and Kwara.
However, the Enugu State government swiftly denied these claims. The official statement clarified that the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Chieftaincy Affairs had only conducted a conflict resolution meeting with Yoruba community stakeholders regarding the Obaship issue.
The purpose of the meeting was to address ongoing disputes and initiate peace-building efforts, not to appoint a new traditional ruler.
The statement issued by the government read: “The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Chieftaincy Affairs of Enugu State wishes to issue a disclaimer about a viral news item and a purported interview granted by Mr. Abdulazeez Adebayo Olateju claiming that he was adopted as the Oba of Yoruba Community in Enugu State.”
It continued, “The Ministry held a conflict resolution meeting with the Yoruba community stakeholders in Enugu State on August 20, 2024, regarding the Obaship issue. No individual was adopted as Oba during this meeting. Instead, a peace-building process was initiated.”
Okey Ogbodo, the Commissioner for the Ministry, chaired the meeting and emphasised the need for further consultations to achieve a peaceful resolution of the crisis. He also warned against anyone falsely presenting themselves as the Oba of the Yoruba Community in Enugu, stating that legal actions would be taken against such individuals.
The Yoruba community in Enugu State, though a minority compared to other ethnic groups in the region, has been an integral part of the state’s diverse cultural fabric.
