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The Chairman, Osogbo Progressive Union (OPU) Home Branch, Hon. Badmus Jelili Amelemero has urged members of the public to disregard insinuations in the public domain that he is not the authentic Chairman of the branch.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Monday, Amelemero described as an act of imposition and assault to the integrity of the palace, elders and notable indigenes of the town, who are working round the clock to propagate the developmental aspirations of Osogbo, claims by some people that his executives are illegal.
The OPU Home Branch Chairman said it is unfortunate that individuals like Alhaji Akeem Woleola, the erstwhile Chairman of the branch is still laying claims to its leadership, after the expiration of his two terms, as well as his refusal to allow the election of new executives for the branch, two years after he ceased to hold the position.
He noted that his election and that of the executives inaugurated by the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye II who is the Global Patron of the OPU last week, are authentic and endorsed by all and sundry, including individuals like the OPU National President, Justice Moshud Adekunle Adeigbe Rtd.
Amelemero urged members of the public to disregard the reports in the media, stressing that it is untrue and a figment of the imagination of its sources.
His words, “I remain the authentic Chairman of Osogbo Progressive Union (OPU) Home Branch after my lawful election and inauguration by my father, the Ataoja of Osogbo.
“I became the acting chairman of the branch in 2022 when Woleola’s second term expired. I was his Auditor I when he became the chairman in 2014 and we spent two terms. When it was time for the election, the OPU National Caretaker Committee led by Hon. Justice Moshud Adekunle Adeigbe Rtd asked Woleola for the membership register which he failed to produce. Also, he could not produce the membership cards which the OPU Home Branch members had paid for.
“After the list was withheld for months, the stakeholders including Baba Ataoja prevailed on him which degenerated into a crisis. He (Woleola) insulted the monarch and vowed not to come to the Ataoja’s Palace at Oja-Oba where the home branch has been meeting since time immemorial again.
“The crisis was much and that was why I had to step in as the acting Chairman, when our former Vice Chairman, Dr. Adeniran Tella, who was acting, left to become a Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in 2022. The issues were later resolved by the Ataoja and other stakeholders, leading to my election in June 2024 and I became the Chairman. That is why I was inaugurated alongside my executives last week.
“It is, however, surprising that Woleola is claiming that He is still the Chairman and that nothing can happen to OPU Home Branch when he is still alive. Is he claiming that the Chairmanship of OPU Home Branch is a lifelong affair? It is a royal throne where the occupant dies? Has he not served out his two terms? He is just a noisemaker and a rabble rouser.
“He also said Hon. Justice Moshud Adekunle Adeigbe (Rtd), our revered elder and OPU National President is an illegal President. Has the court made a pronouncement on the Presidency of OPU? What right does he have to declare Justice Adeigbe a fraud and impostor? I am sure the eminent jury will take proper legal steps on his allegations.
“This was the same man (Woleola) who did everything to subvert the actualisation of Ambassador Rasaq Siyanbola’s second term aspiration as OPU National President in 2016. When Siyanbola eventually emerged, he took everybody to court. After we settled out of court, Justice Adeigbe (Rtd) became the caretaker Chairman. He still did not allow him (Adeigbe) to fully enjoy his tenure of office. I wish to ask at this juncture that what exactly does he want?
“The Palace is with my executives and Justice Adeigbe as the official executives of OPU both at Home and the national level. Whoever is laying claim to the seat asides the ongoing court case involving the Presidency of OPU is a distraction.
“Woleola and his co-travellers should be careful and avoid anything that will further truncate the peaceful coexistence of the people of Osogbo. It will do all of them a great deal to join hands with me, the OPU National Leadership, Our Father, Kabiyesi Ataoja, and other illustrious sons and daughters of Osogbo to take our common patrimony to the next level,” Amelemero stated.