A community leader in the Orile Ilawo clan of Egba ancestry, Dr. David Ogunsanya, has reacted strongly to what he described as baseless and defamatory claims levelled against him by Oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor and his publicist in recent online publications.
Ogunsanya, who has been vocal about issues concerning leadership, heritage, and the future of the Orile Ilawo and Ilawo township communities in Abeokuta, Ogun State, accused MacGregor’s camp of launching a smear campaign aimed at discrediting his efforts and silencing his advocacy.
The community leader, in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, condemned the recent articles which claimed he was orchestrating a “campaign of calumny” against MacGregor.
He stressed that such claims represented a new low in what he alleged was a series of falsehoods being peddled to shore up the waning influence of the MacGregor camp in the community.
Ogunsanya also dismissed these allegations as malicious fabrications designed to tarnish his reputation and distract from pressing issues impacting the Orile Ilawo community.
“These attacks are not only baseless but also a deliberate attempt to suppress my advocacy for transparency and accountability in the Orile Ilawo community,” he stated.
He reiterated that his involvement in community matters has always been guided by a deep commitment to truth and to preserving the legacy of the Orile Ilawo people.
According to him, his position regarding Chief MacGregor’s non-indigenous status remains firmly supported by verifiable facts.
He presented what he described as fresh evidence to support this assertion and maintained that his actions have remained within the bounds of the law.
Addressing the court injunction dated January 28, 2025, Ogunsanya dismissed MacGregor’s claim that a court ruling issued on January 28, 2025, was ineffective due to a filed appeal.
While warning the public not to be misled by “deliberate misinterpretations of legal principles” being circulated by MacGregor’s camp, Ogunsanya added, “An appeal does not automatically void a court order.”
He added that the suggestion that the ruling “has no effect” was a gross distortion of the law and a calculated attempt to mislead the community and undermine the judiciary.
The community leader pointed out that even where an appeal has been filed, it remains legally toothless without proper compilation and transmission of records from the lower court
He added, “While an appeal may have been filed, this does not negate the validity of the court’s ruling or absolve Chief MacGregor from compliance until the appeal is determined. The suggestion that the ruling “has no effect” is a gross misrepresentation of legal principles, designed to mislead the public and undermine judicial authority.
“The legal process of an appeal requires strict adherence to procedural steps, particularly the compilation and transmission of records, without which an appeal lacks validity.
“An appeal lacking compiled and transmitted records from the lower court holds no legal weight. He urged Chief Alexander Olusegun MacGregor and his publicist to cease spreading misleading claims that deceive the public.”
Ogunsanya also refuted claims that the presiding judge in the case recused herself, stating that such an assertion was completely unverified and appeared to be another fabrication designed to support MacGregor’s narrative.
The community advocate further described as laughable the accusation that he is carrying out a personal vendetta or seeking to destabilise the community through false allegations.
He said his actions have always been transparent and grounded in a desire to protect the rights and heritage of the Orile Ilawo people, noting that accusations labelling him a “usurper” or “land speculator” were malicious smears aimed at shifting attention away from what he called MacGregor’s questionable leadership practices.
Ogunsanya also countered MacGregor’s recent denial that he issued a warning prohibiting Orile Ilawo indigenes from celebrating the recently concluded Egungun festival.
He described the denial as false and misleading, stating that there is ample evidence, including recordings from a Splash FM broadcast, that confirm MacGregor did in fact issue such an announcement.
He accused MacGregor’s team of attempting to rewrite facts and distract the public from unresolved controversies surrounding the festival and other traditional rites in the community.
Expressing disappointment over the role of certain media platforms, Ogunsanya condemned what he called a lack of journalistic professionalism by some online publications that carried the defamatory report without reaching out to him for comment or seeking verification of the claims.
He maintained that his public statements, whether made on the radio or within Egba community forums, have always been based on verified facts and a firm concern for the welfare of the Orile Ilawo people.
“Such one-sided reporting undermines fairness and fuels division,” he said.
Ogunsanya reaffirmed his dedication to the people of Orile Ilawo, both at the homestead and in the township in Abeokuta, declaring that no amount of smear campaigns or misinformation would deter him from his pursuit of justice and truth.
He affirmed, “I remain committed to the truth and the welfare of Orile Ilawo community, both at the homestead and in the township in Abeokuta. No amount of falsehoods or campaign of calumny will deter me from standing for what is right.”
He urged the people of Orile Ilawo to remain vigilant and discerning, assuring them that the facts will ultimately prevail.
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