The Artisans Congress in Offa, Kwara State, at the weekend appealed to stakeholders in the raging royal legal battle over the right to the stool of Olofa of Offa to allow the status quo  remain in the interest of peace and the unprecedented development being witnessed in the ancient town.

Spokesman of the congress, Mr. Abdulhakeem Olasunkanmi, led about 25 groups comprising tailors, bricklayers, printers, carpenters, market men and women and motor mechanic among others in a solidarity visit to the embattled monarch, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II in his palace.

Speaking at the palace, Olasunkanmi said since the installation of Gbadamosi about three years ago, Offa had witnessed an unprecedented growth in economic activities that had not been experienced since the advent of the town.

Olasunkanmi also said the peace and development have been the lot of Offa, explaining that members of the congress "have continued to enjoy the fruits of their labour within the period under review."

He pledged the support of the congress to the monarch, saying the visit was to assure the traditional ruler of their collective resolve to stand by him because of his popularity in the town, which cut across religion, age and profession.

According to the congress leaders, it is because Gbadamosi is a popular choice that made it possible for him to have accomplished so much within a short period he was installed.

The congress particularly called on the rival Olugbense ruling house to consider the larger interest of the development of Offa and allow the status quo remain since no one is contesting their right to the throne.

All the chairmen of various groups under the umbrella body took their turn to extol the virtue of Gbadamosi, urging other stakeholders in the contest to wade in and see reason with them.

It would be recalled that since Gbadamosi was coronated on December 23, the legal battle took a twist early last month when the rival Olugbense ruling house got appeal court judgement that the incumbent monarch should vacate throne while their candidate, Mr. Adegboyega Keji should be installed instead.

Counsel to the embattled monarch,  Mr. Rafiu Rabana (SAN) had quickly appealed the judgement, thereby asking for stay of execution while the case is now awaiting allocation in the Supreme Court.

This development had prompted chains of reactions as the rival ruling house addressed a press conference, calling on the Kwara State Government to immediately execute the judgement; Offa students in diaspora protested in solidarity with the embattled monarch and market men and women also shut down their shops in support.