A socio-cultural group in Offa, Igbimon Omoluabi Offa, has accused the Global President of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Alhaji Muideen Azeez Salako, of showing gross disrespect to the Olofa of Offa, His Royal Majesty, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, and desecrating the revered traditional stool for political reasons.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Ahmed Afolabi Rilwan, the group described Alhaji Salako as “a man trying to play god” over his alleged attempt to subordinate traditional and communal structures to political interests.
According to the statement, the Olofa’s stool remains the highest symbol of unity and authority in Offa, while the Olofa-in-Council serves as the custodian of the town’s heritage and values. The group, however, lamented that the current ODU leadership had “abandoned its traditional neutrality” and turned the once-revered union into a partisan organ of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The ODU under Salako’s watch has been reduced to a political tool. It openly endorsed undemocratic processes and interfered with civic programmes such as the Channels Television Offa Chairmanship Debate, which was frustrated to protect preferred candidates,” the group alleged.
The statement further accused the ODU President of having repeated clashes with respected Offa elders, including the Asiwaju of Offa, Alhaji Tajudeen Owoyemi, and of nearly causing the disruption of the globally recognized Ijakadi Festival before royal intervention restored calm.
The group described as “sacrilegious” a recent claim credited to Alhaji Salako, where he allegedly referred to himself as “second in command” to the Olofa in the affairs of the kingdom, insisting that such an assertion was a direct affront to the traditional hierarchy and the Olofa-in-Council.
It also faulted the ODU’s decision to distance itself from the recent Offa Development Retreat convened by the Olofa, which brought together prominent indigenes including Senator Oyelola Ashiru, Chief Waheed Olagunju, Dr. Awal Ibrahim Brimoh, and others.
“To dismiss a royal-driven initiative is arrogance taken too far,” the statement read. “It is an affront to the soul of the kingdom.”
The group accused the ODU leadership of suppressing internal dissent, removing its national secretary unlawfully, and defending anti-people government actions such as the demolition of shops and the narrowing of Ibrahim Taiwo Road after earlier promises of expansion.
It added that the ODU President had made no tangible investment in Offa yet often antagonized individuals and philanthropists contributing to the town’s progress.
“For peace, unity, and the dignity of Offa Kingdom, Alhaji Salako must tender an unreserved apology to His Royal Majesty and step down as ODU President,” the group concluded.
“Offa is greater than any individual or clique. The Olofa’s stool must never be toyed with.”
Leave a Reply