Daud Olatunji
A large scale of violence is brewing in Igbogila, an aggrearian Community in Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State over a Chieftaincy crisis.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the bloody clash could only be averted if the state Government is swift to nip it in the bud.
PLATFORM TIMES’s investigation revealed that the crisis in Igbogila was not unconnected to the expected Investments coming into the Community.
PLATFORM TIMES’s investigation showed that the plan by BUA cement to commence exploration programme on the community caused the tension.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that a very powerful traditional ruler in Ogun West senatorial district was accused of planning to hijack the investment as he allegedly became a signatory on behalf of the community without the knowledge of the late Oba who was alive then.
It was gathered that the community luckily got the hint of the planed hijack by the powerful Oba (name withheld) and protested which led to the removal of the Oba as the signatory of the agreement letter .
PLATFORM TIMES sighted a letter written on the letterhead of BUA, signed by a senior Geologist for BUA, Kerian Emenike, dated July 2021 and addressed to the Director General Nigeria Mining in Abuja.
The letter with the title “withdrawal of former consent letter for EL3143 and replacement with generally accepted one” complained that the first class Oba ‘cornered’ the BUA officials who came for the signing of the agreement between the company and the people of Igbogila .
Part of the content as sighted by PLATFORM TIMES, read “Reference to EL 31439 located at Igtiogila community. Ogun state and granted to BUA CEMENT PLC 2020.
“BUA plans to commence exploration program on the tittle,but there was a slight disagreement over some unaccepted signatories on the consent letter with Temporary suspension of BUA’S planned activities.
“Presently, all parties unanimously agreed and engaged in signing of a new consent letter duly signed and supported by an accompanying letter from the paramount ruler of Igbogila community backed up with a court affidavit.”
The two Senior Civil servants were said to have been working with the powerful Oba to ensure they sideline the traditional chiefs and replaced them with new set of loyalists .
It was also gathered that the death of the monarch, Oba Ebenezer Olanloye who Joined his ancestors at 96 was announced by Erelu of Igbogila land, High Chief (Mrs) Margaret Olutayo Olaotan.
Olaotan announced the death on behalf of both the Igbogila Traditional Council and Council of Chiefs, disclosing that the monarch passed on Saturday, 2nd of March, 2024
There was clash of interest in the announcement as the statement by Olaotan urged the general public to “disregard an online publication purportedly signed by Akinlolu Atanda Ajibade who had earlier on been removed by His Royal Highness, Oba E.O Olanloye, the Olu Of Igbogila land during his lifetime.”
PLATFORM TIMES’ further findings showed that since 2022, the Igbogila Council of Chiefs has been denied access to the Kabiyesi due to his illness as a result of age.
PLATFORM TIMES further gathered that due to the illness of the late Oba, Bashorun along with other Council of Chiefs were asked to hold the affairs for the monarch when he was bedridden .
Investigation further revealed that, by 2022, some members of Olanloye Ruling House, two among, which are senior Civil Servants in Ogun State have been allegedly manipulating the Community with their Cousins from Akinlolu Family to clandestinely install new Chiefs without the knowledge and approval of Kabiyesi who was unconscious of anything .
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that one Prince Alade Olanloye was installed as Ajagunwa (a kingmaker) a Nephew of the late Kabiyesi, which,it was gathered was against the tradition of Igbogila land.
Sources in the community told PLATFORM TIMES that the Olanloye Family without the second Ruling Family and Chiefs had sought an approval to increase Kingmakers number from five to seven .
Sources hinted PLATFORM TIMES that there was a Supreme Court judgement in favour of the five Kingmakers but two Senior Civil Servants were reported to have boasted to use their connection in the Civil Service to go against the court judgement.
One of the Chiefs whose Chieftaincy was reported to have been given to someone else, disclosed that, a letter, dated December 2022, with the title Suspension from Office was faked, he said Kabiyesi was already inactive at the time, but the people behind the action claimed to have suspended five traditional chiefs without the Kabiyesi or Council of Chiefs’ consent.
Some residents who spoke with PLATFORM TIMES said that since 2020, Chief Bashorun had been presiding over the activities of the Town along with other Chiefs till 2022 when Prince Waheed Olanloye and Prince Adesina Olanloye suddenly began to create aberration by removing Constitutionally and Traditionally Installed Chiefs leading to the tension and the hitherto peaceful Town.
The affected Chiefs also expressed dismay at the audacity of one Chief (Mrs) Margaret Olutayo Olaotan, against the Custom and Tradition of Yoruba and Igbogila in particular, for going to Press to announce the transition of Kabiyesi, an act they said their ancestors forbid.
They allege that the announcement was made with the support of Olanloye family.
Tracing the history of Igbogila, PLATFORM TIMES was hinted that the community was being ruled by Oshin Royal Family with two legs, which are the Kaatola and Esubiyi Ajado Royal Families, it was gathered that the immediate past Kabiyesi came from Kaatola Family.
Meanwhile, Traditional activities for the departed Royal Father are ongoing while tension was brewing in the land.
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