Residents and indigenes of Olorunda community in Abeokuta North Local Government, Ogun State have cried out over alleged plan to impose one Segun Ogunsola Philip on them as the Orunda of Olorunda in the community.
The residents, who stormed the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, on Tuesday ,declared that Ogunsola was from Gbagura land and not from Olorunda community, vowing not to allow non-indigene to rule their community.
The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions such as “Ogunsola is not from Olorunda,” “Ogunsola Segun was never a Baale, He can never be upgraded,” “There is an existing Baale in Olorunda, “Don’t turn Olorunda to war zone,” and “Government should start listening to the poor and powerless on obaship issue.”
Speaking with newsmen during the protest, the Secretary of Kesan Orile/Olorunda community, Chief Oguntade Johnson, disclosed that the residents of the community have kicked against the alleged plan by the state government to install Ogunsola as their monarch, saying that he was not from the community.
He appealed to Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to intervene in the matter to forestall breakdown of law and order in the community, adding that they will not allow any stranger to rule them.
He said, “Firstly, I want to commend our Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for his excellent performance in Ogun State and his commitment towards ensuring security of lives and properties. The reason why we are here today is on the issue of Olorunda, Olorunda is under Yewa in Abeokuta North Local Government, we only install baale in Olorunda and not king, we already have acting Baale; his name is Chief Ashamu Adegbola Agbomabiwo n. Olorunda is not under Gbagura. We are calling on the state government to intervene in the matter because we are hearing that some people want to impose one Ogunsola Philip on us as monarch in Olorunda, Ogunsola is not the son of the soil, we don’t want war or killings and that is why we are calling on the state government, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,Hon. Ganiu Hamzat and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon.Oluwashina Ogungbade, Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Segun Olaotan,Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo and Corps Commander of Amotekun, Brig.Gen. Alade Adedigba (rtd), to intervene in the matter, we don’t want war in Olorunda, we are law-abiding and peaceful people “
Also the youth leader of Kesan Orile, Comrade Oyeyemi Abegunrin added that Ogunsola was never a Baale and can not be upgraded to the status of a king, saying that there is an existing Baale, Chief Ashamu Adegbola Agbomabiwon, who is under Omola of Imala land.
He said “Ogunsola Segun was never a Baale, he can never be upgraded to the status of a king. Olorunda is not Egbaland, it is Yewa land. Ogunsola Philip is not an indigene of Olorunda, he is from Egbaland and Olorunda is under Yewa land. Can you see now that he can not rule us in Olorunda? We want to call on Ogun State Government to come to our aid in addressing this issue so that it will not lead to crisis in the community, we are peaceful but we will not allow non-indigenes to rule us”.
Comrade Abegunrin added that there has been an ongoing case since 2014 and now at the State High Court 4, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta before Justice Majekodumi relating to the matter.
He therefore on behalf of the people of Olorunda appealed to the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun who he said holds the traditional institution in high esteem and would never be part of the use of intrigues and lies to subvert the institution.
