Kunle Adelabu
ln what could be described as a submission of an elder statesman and a man that has the interest of his community at heart, the former two term Chairman, Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Saheed Hassan, has said that he will not be appealing the Lagos High Court judgment of Tuesday, which nullified his nomination as the Alajede – elect.
Honourable Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday, delivered his judgment on the 11 years old Obaship case in favour of Prince Kazeem Adebayo Amusa who is now the Alajede – elect.
Late Alajede of Ijede, Oba Fatai Odesanya died August 2012 and the court matter was instituted in 2013.
The former Council boss, who before his time at the helms of affair of the Ijede LCDA, served two – terms as the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency II, confirmed his position to THE IMPACT when he spoke with our reporter who has been covering the matter since inception.
“I have decided not to pursue any appeal because if I do, that will take some years if not many years and if I win, they too will proceed to the Supreme Court. Where will Ijede be while we battle ourselves in court? Where is Ijede at the moment?”, Hon. Hassan asked rhetorically.
“People have been coming to me and I have been telling them that I will not appeal the judgment.
“Politically, I have left many things because of my interest in the Obaship, but my interest in the development of Ijede is paramount. Ijede must move forward and attain its greatness which has eluded it.
“On that basis, I am not appealing the court judgment. I can’t allow Ijede to go through it the last 12 years again”, he reaffirmed.
Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, who spoke with our reporter late last night, has hinted that her predecessor will not be contesting the judgment in the interest of Ijede.
“Thank God the community is at peace and I can confirm to you that Hon. Hassan is not going for any appeal”, she said.
“The entire Ijede is happy to have a new king. It’s long overdue and we have to move forward”, she added.
When asked on the way forward, the Ijede Council boss said that the community is working towards the presentation of the staff of office to the new Alajede, after which he would be admitted into traditional place of seclusion.
“We are working on getting the state government to present the staff of office to the Alajede – elect and after that, he will be going to Ipebi for necessary traditional rites”, she said.
“The royal family is expected to take the necessary steps with the traditional institutions to ensure a successful installation”.
