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One of the contestants of the stool of Olu of Orile Ilawo, Chief Lawrence Ogunsanya has described the sudden installation of Alex Macgregor as the monarch of the community as a ruse in futility.
It will be recalled that there have been court cases instituted against the process that brought up the “selection” of Macgregor with facts of the matter clearly before the courts and currently being argued in at least four different courts.
Despite the position of the court that status quo should be maintained by all parties to preserve RES of the matter involved in the legal tussle, the Ogun State government through the ministry of Local Government and Chieftency affairs had last week gone ahead to install McGregor as the traditional ruler of Ilawo.
Reacting, Chief Ogunsanya described the situation as quite an unfortunate one, stressing that it is an aberration for any government official to get involved in the installation of McGregor despite the position of the courts.
He noted, “it is clearly a situation of unqualified impunity when government officials do exactly what the courts have made pronouncements on the need to preserve the RES of the matter in question.”
“Integrity in kingship should be one of the most important components in the Yoruba Traditional Society, no wonder a town or a village does not exist without having a ruler. Unfortunately, the traditional process of selecting kings in some parts of Yorubaland is sometimes compromised with a preference for the highest bidder.”
“Well, Yorubas will say, Eegun to Ko Ko jo, Iran lo Ma wo gbeyin”. I appeal to our people, home and abroad to remain calm as the stolen mandate will be taken back by the special grace of God.
“Aside the fact that the process of “selection” was faulty and not done according to the law, there is nowhere in Yorubaland that a non-indigene with no proveable ties to any of the villages at the homestead, (ancient or current) becomes an Oba over such. Macgregor claims he is from Ilawo but has never been able to name a single village or proof of where he is from in Ilawo homestead (Orile).
“So, please and please, I am begging you, no one should fight over this matter as there are court cases presently on-going on the issue and I can assure you that the said government decision which approved installation of Macgregor in Elegunmefa was not in accordance with the rules of law and therefore will be rescinded in due time.”
According to him, the anomaly had been been challenged before the court, but surprisingly the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sina Ogungbade had issued a report, urging government to go ahead with the installation of Macgregor as the new monarch.
He added, “This is very strange and honestly, those in authority should deal fairly, justly, equitably with the people knowing that all mortals would render account of their stewardship to God at the end of their journey on earth.”
Chief Lawrence Ogunsanya also called on Governor Dapo Abiodun and well meaning Egba Chiefs to allow the court to determine the current suits over the Obaship tussle and not continuously disrupt the peace of the community by provocative actions like such undertaken last week.
“There are at least 4 (four) different cases in 4(four) different courts already on the subject matter from several candidates, we had pleaded and still pleading to the government of the day to stop all activities on the matter until the determination of the subject matter because it remains a serious one.
“We should do things accordingly. I want them all to know that we don’t want anything that will disrupt the peace of Orile Ilawo . Orile Ilawo is vital to the security and economy of Ogun State being an expansive border community to neighboring Ibadan.
“We don’t want anything that will disrupt the peace of our people, our community. We want the government or whoever that is involved to be cautious and abide by the rules and regulations guiding the process of the Oba in Orile Ilawo.
“We however believe in the wisdom, credibility, tact and all other positive values which wig symbolises. We totally believe the courts will do justice to the matter irrespective of whose ox is gored,” Chief Lawrence submitted.
Meanwhile, there are currently endless protest across Orile Ilawo, particularly in Alagbagba Community and surrounding 66 villages comprising youths, women, hunters and community leaders, warning the government not to set the community on fire over the installation of Macgregor which they described as the “wrong candidate”.
The residents across the villages who converged in Alagbagba singing solidarity songs to express their displeasure were armed with placards with various inscriptions, including “Mr Governor, Do Not Let Ogun State Attorney or commissioner spoil the good name you have earned over the years,” “Attorney General should know better and respect the rule of law,” among others.
Similarly, hundreds of people under the aegis of
Orile Ilawo descendants Union had warned repeatedly that they don’t want any form of interference or imposition of an Oba in Orile Ilawo. The group also warned that notable personalities in the state should not interfere in the process but stay away and not impose a monarch on the town.
According to them, we are capable of maintaining the rich and fair tradition of our fathers and will be grateful if the Local Government, commissioners and all persons who wish Ogun state well, will join the Ilawo traditional council of chiefs in ensuring that this tradition of culture as embedded in the declaration is followed.
It will be recalled that the Ilawo traditional council of chiefs, headed by Oluwo of Ilawo, Chief Samson Dosunmu and Balogun of Ilawo, Abraham Soyoye who doubles as Akogun of Egba land and Jaguna of Ilawo had written the government and also made several official announcements, both on radio and several media prints to vehemently dissociate themselves and the township leadership from the alleged imposition of McGregor by the government on the people.
One of the residents, Chief Korede Akinbile from Akinbile Village, expressed dismay that government imposed a candidate on Orile Ilawo against the wishes of too many Orile Ilawo indigenes. That remains a charade, he said.
He noted, “The sanctity of the kingship in Yoruba traditional society should be maintained and this has always been the position of Ilawo traditional council of chiefs. The principles of checks and balances need to be enforced, to ensure the control of the institutions involved. Furthermore, the integrity, honesty and hard work which are the integral attributes of the Yoruba race should be upheld at all levels.
“In Yoruba land, it is unheard of that a king was enthroned behind the Oluwo, Balogun, Jaguna, Apena, Aro, Lukotun and many other core leaders of the township. The royal prerogatives of wearing the crown do not come so cheap. There are processes- restrictions, seclusions, and transformation between the period of selection and coronation let alone installation.”
Another resident, Elder Joshua Ojeniyi, 81, who lives in Aba Jayeola Village in Orile Ilawo described the purported king as someone who doesn’t know what our tradition entails.
Aside the court cases going on, He rhetorically asked ” Have you ever seen a true Yoruba king who has not been through the traditional processes of ipebi which is required of a king before being crowned? In this case, he is going into ipebi after being crowned. Where is the tenet of tradition in that?
“There are several other issues like who even crowned the purported Oba? Oluwo of another township, members of other clan and what does that tell you all? All of these mis-steps only complicates issues surrounding the processes and we hope the courts and our ancestors will do justice on all ends.
“Individuals seeking legal redress for the Obaship issue and other official violations of their rights now have to navigate through a confusing maze of obstacles to justice.”
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