Igogo people are still contending its position, as well as that of the Onigogo, among towns and Obas documented in the Moba L.G.T.C. members, in order of precedence issued on 8/01/2010. This contentious listing demoted the Onigogo to the third position behind Obaleo of Erinmope without justification. The surreptitious change that clandestinely took place is against age long order and constitutes a rape on Igogo.
Contention is based on existing documents, intelligent reports, gazettes, chieftaincy laws, historical antecedents and other verifiable sources. In particular, Igogo copiously rely on the following documents as guide and benchmark of reference.
1. “AN INTELLIGENCE REPORT ON AWTUN (OTUN) DISTRICT IN THE EKITI DIVISION OF THE ONDO PROVINCE” BY A. F. ABEL, ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER (DATED 28TH JUNE 1938)
A preview this very early document on administration will show that Awtun (Otun) and Gogo (Igogo) are referred to in the same breath with Gogo (Igogo) always second where other towns are mentioned. For example only Gogo (Igogo) and Otun had educational institution as at 1938 vide page 30 paragraph2in the official population. Igogo is listed second position with a population of 3,124 to Otun 3,366 and no other town in the district had up to 3000 populaion.
2. LISTING AT A MEETING HELD ON 14TH APRIL, 1955 OF OTUN DISTRICT COUNCIL OF OBASA
A cursory look at the minutes of the town district council meeting held on 14th April 1955 and produced on 18th May 1955 by the then Divisional Officer Ekiti Division reveals that Obaloja (Onigogo) was listed in order of prominence only after Oore who was president/chairman Otun District.
3. THE LAWS OF WESTERN REGION OF NIGERIA (ENACTED ON OR BEFORE 31ST JANUARY, 1959) BY SIR JOHN VERITY, ASSISTED BY FATAYI WILLIAMS ESQ AND DR. F. A. AJAYI; REVISED EDITION VOLUME 1 CAP 19, SCHEDULE 1
The law expressly support the position that Onigogo (Obaloja) is only second to Oore in the District as the Obaloja and his chiefs are listed after Oore in the schedule. There existed hitherto no controversy about which Oba was second to Oore in the District.
4. THE LAWS OF ONDO STATE OF NIGERIA (REVERSED EDITION PREPARED BY DIRECTION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR JUSTICE SIR LIONEL BRETT M.A.; VOLUME 1 CAP 20, PAGE 278. INTER ALIA THE RECOGNISED CHIEFTAINCY REVOCATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISION ORDER (DATE OF COMMENCEMENT 5TH FEBRUARY, 1976)
This competent law corroborates earlier authorities by listing Oore of Otun first in the Ekiti Western Local Government Council and Obaloja (Onigogo) in the ninth place overall but second among Moba Obas with Oore in the superior position, and there was no contention among the Obas in Moba area. It is noteworthy that this law clearly states the “miscellaneous provision order” and there was no protest or call for reversal of the order at this time.
5. MORGAN CHIEFTAINCY REVIEW COMMISSION; VOLUME 1 PAGE 37, 43
The Morgan chieftaincy review merely confirmed (on pages 37and 43 where the Obas were listed and categorized) that Onigogo is next to Oore in Moba. This is consistent with the norm, tradition, and socio-political arrangement that had existed and subsisted amongst Moba Obas. On page 37, (Obaloja) Onigogo was listed as No 5 in Ero Local Government and No 2 among Moba Obas. On page 43 Onigogo is listed in third place among class D Obas in Ero Local Government and first on the list among Moba Obas.
6. REPORT OF THE ALADEJANA JUDICIAL PANEL FOR GRADING OF OBAS IN EKITI STATE AND INCIDENTAL MATTERS (REF NO CD 38/8/94)
This all important and encompassing report ref no CD /38/8/94 dated 7th June 1999 clearly enunciates the approved Grading of Obas based on the Aladejana Judicial panel on grading of Obas in Ekiti State and as approved by the State Executive Council with effect from Friday 28th May 1999. Onigogo is listed among class B Obas and placed on no 31 ahead of Obaleo of Erinmope who is listed no 32 among class B Obas in order of precedence.
While Igogo owes no animosity towards anybody, records must be set straight and the travesty of Justice reversed. Onigogo should therefore be reverted to his rightful position among the Local Government Traditional Council members and be upgraded to class A among Ekiti Obas in conformity with upgrading accorded other Obas in his category.