Oba Musliu Ademola Eletu-Asorota, the new Onitele of Itele-Ota in Ogun State’s Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, has revealed that people causing havoc in the town are non-indigenes.
According to him, those who oppose communal harmony are out to milk the people and deprive them of their birth rights.
Oba Eletu-Asorota, in an interview with newsmen, said Itele used to be a tranquil community until the incursion of persons he said had no respect for elders or traditional institutions.
“Itele people are peace loving people before the incursion of some particular little persons, who have no regard for any elder nor our traditional institution. Rather, they are just here to be milking my people with all sorts of frivolous actions. I pray to almighty God that my people will very soon see the light in allowing Itele to rest and embrace peace,” Oba Musiliu said.
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The Oba, who portrayed his ascension to the throne as competitive and aggressive, insisted that without God, all efforts would have been in vain.
Oba Eletu-Asorota blamed Itele’s infrastructure problems on the many years of interregnum.
“The problems facing Itele are all evident, it need not to be said because it is clear to everyone to see; a neglect of almost 23 years of no clear leader. No single motorable road here in Itele-Otta, a town highly populated because of her proximity to Lagos. No health centres and even the school here has even been left to rot away.”
The traditional ruler, on the other hand, believes that Governor Dapo Abiodun will bring positive improvements to the historic Awori town after ascending to the throne.
“My belief is that, because of the leadership hullabaloo in Itele-Otta, the government has somehow distanced themselves from here. Anyway, knowing the antecedents of our present Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and his team, I am sure he will quickly realise the comparative advantage of Itele in terms of the benefits of Otta-Itele-Ayobo road to the second largest industrial estate in the Southwest of Nigeria and I am very sure our Governor will soon pay some attention to our road and follow it up with other social infrastructures,” the new king stated.
The traditional king urged the inhabitants of Itele, including his fellow candidates, to work together to improve the town.
“Everyone with Itele blood in them that has abstained from the town, either because of the kingship tussle or other reasons, please come back home. Let us all create a vibrant community for both indigenes and residents. I am extending my hands of brotherhood to all Itele families of whatever extraction, especially those who are aggrieved; be you in my support or against me in the past, let us all come back together.
“We should not allow the merchants of hatred that are not from any part of our town to be creating crisis within us. We are peace loving people,” Oba Musiliu said.