From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
Ado-Awaye community in Iseyin local government area of Oyo State is enveloped with tension over what residents referred to as “unauthorised and unacceptable installation of new community head’’.
Investigation revealed that the ancient community had been under the tutelage of the Alaafin of Oyo from time
immemorial, as installation of the community head must receive the paramount ruler’s consent.
For some time now, the serene community had been without a head (Baale) due to the demise of the immediate past ruler.
While the due process of appointing a successor Baale in line with the laid down tradition was being followed by the king makers and elders of the community through the Alaafin, it was gathered that a new community head, Mukaila Adegoke, was installed by the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul-Ganiy Ologunebi Lanase 1.
Enraged by the monarch’s move, some residents, in a swift reaction, mobilised themselves and installed their chosen head, Samuel Ojebisi Okunlola, on behalf of the Alaafin.
Iseyin to Ado-Awaye is about 15 kilometres.
They, however, gave the one installed by the Aseyin a 72-hour ultimatum within which to renounce his installation and leave the community, or face their revolt.
A representation of the community later besieged the Alaafin’s palace to lodge complain to the paramount ruler, who is also the permanent chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, who urged them not to take laws into their hands but to allow the law to take its course, assured them that normalcy would soon be restored.
The aggrieved residents, thereafter, proceeded to the Oyo Area Police Commander’s office where they also lodged complaint.
In separate interviews with our correspondent, a king maker in the community who is also the Agoro-Awaye, Chief Musibau Adebimpe Akintayo, community chairman, Mr. Folorunso Kehinde and the traditional Chief Priest, Raheem Ladokun, said “the only condition for peace is for the purported head not installed by the Alaafin to leave the
community because Ado-Awaye, from time immemorial, belongs to Oyo-Alaafin ancestral lineage’’.
However, efforts to contact the Aseyin of Iseyin in his palace were to no avail, as he was said to be out of town.
As at the time of filing this report, the police were said to be
making adequate preparations on how to curtail rising violence from the chieftaincy row.
