SPOILING FOR WAR!

Crisis Looms In Ado-Odo As Community Protests Imposition of Baale 

There are indications that the people of Okaran Village in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State may go to war over the proposed upgrade of the status of the current Baale of the Village, Chief Jaiyeola Jimoh Togun to a coronet Oba by the Olofin of Ado -Odo HRM (Oba) Olusola Idris Adebowale Lamidi-Osolo.

To this end, members of the community under the auspices of the Akapo Royal Family are spoiling for war with the Olofin of Ado-Odo.

Led by the trio of Elder (Prince) Oluwatoyin Akapo (Family Head), Prince Adebiyi Akapo (Secretary) and Princess Temitope Akapo (Treasurer) recently staged a peaceful protest to the palace of Olu of Ilawo and paramount ruler of Yewaland, HRM Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle (Asade Agunloye IV).

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘We Say No To Imposition‘, ’Save Our Soul Gov.Abiodun ‘ etc to express their grievances. 

Though Oba Olugbenle could not attend to the protesters as he was unavoidably absent, a petition written on behalf of the community by the protesters lawyer, Michael Ladipo Esq. was submitted to the palace through the Secretary to the Oba.

Copies of the petition was also sent to the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun; the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogun State as well as the Executive Chairman, Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government. 

We gathered that part of the contents of the petition was that the Olofin of Ado-Odo, HRM (Oba)Olusola Idris Adebowale Lamidi-Osolo as well as Chief Jaiyeola Togun are parties in a pending suit brought by the Akapo Royal Family challenging the Baale-ship of Chief Togun, which suit is pending determination. 

The petitioners are therefore praying for both parties to maintain the status quo till the determination of the suit by the court.

They alleged that Oba Lamidi-Osolo's proposed move to upgrade Baale Togun's status to a coronet Oba amounts to imposition and contempt of court which they vowed to resist through all legal and reasonable means.

Attempt to reach out to the Alado for his response to the allegation was abortive as the monarch was said to have traveled out of the country at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the petitioners have enjoined both Gov. Dapo Abiodun and Oba Olugbenle who incidentally is the Chairman of Yewa Traditional Council to wade into the matter before it escalates into chaos as the imposed Baale (Chief Jaiyeola Togun) is allegedly threatening violence by unleashing mercenaries and land speculators to intimidate inhabitants of Okanran community.