BY  DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta
Ogun State Government  yesterday averted a clash  between the Liken of Iwopin in Ogun waterside local government of the state,Oba Julius Adekoya and  aggrieved  palace Chiefs led by Babatunde Ligali, the Aro of Iwopin  community, over the alleged profanation of culture and customs of the community by the Oba.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that, the crisis almost led to the dethronement of the Oba by the  angry chiefs who accused him of attempting to eradicate the culture  of the community with his religious belief.

It was  put to an end by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,Muyiwa Oladipo at  the parley organised by the state government  held at Obas Complex,Oke-Mosan,Abeokuta.

At the parley, the embattled monarch said, though being a Christian by birth he had never kicked against the worship of any deity nor profaned any tradition of the land.

He acknowledged that, he ordered for the stoppage of  worship of a deity called “Ibeju”,following a revelation he got from  Ifa Oracle.

Oba Adekoya further said that, the Community was still observing the worship of the remaining 15  deities out of 16 gods, promising to thread the peaceful paths.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved Chiefs,the Aro of Iwopin said, the monarch was playing prank with the tradition of the community.

He said, the greatest and most important deity which according to him has been protecting the community was abandoned by the monarch.

He said that, if not for the intervention of the government, the chief s would have used their power to make the community ungovernable for the monarch which might lead to his dethronement.

The Commissioner, while proffering solution to the crisis, ordered  the monarch  to call an all inclusive-stakeholders meeting  at the community town Hall within a  month  and subject the issue  to a referendum.