Residents alert Gov Adeleke to intervene in planned installation of new Monarch in Kajola-Ijesha

Some residents of Kajola Ijesa, in Atakunmosa West Local Government Area of Osun State, have called on the state Governor, Ademola Adeleke and Speaker, State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Adewale Egbedun in the Obaship tussle that has engulfed the community.

The concerned residents alleged of a plan to impose the person who had already been installed as a monarch in Ijesa land on the community as the monarch.

It was gathered that Kajola Ijesa embroiled in crisis following the announcement by the government to upgrade the stool of the town from Baale (Head of the village) to a part 11 monarch in year 2010.

It was gathered that Prince Prince Johnson Oladokun Akinyemi had been the Baale of Kajola Ijesa before the then government under the leadership of the former Governor Olagunaoye Oyinlola approved the upgrading of the stool to part two monarch under the Chiefs Law of Osun State (formerly known as Looja of Kajola-ljesa).

However, in a letter signed by SUP.AP. M. Ojo, Elder T.A Alokan, Mr Jide Awoyelu and Sule Anifowose addressed to the Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Adekunle Aromolaran nominated Prince Johnson Oladokun Akinyemi as Loja of Kajola Ijesaland

In the letter dated May 11th 2009, obtained by our Correspondent sought the approval of Oba Aromolaran.

It was further gathered that, following the development Aderibigbe Omirin Okunade, former Alase of Ilassa, nominated as Looja of Kajola-Ijesa against the initial nomination in favour of Prince Akinyemi, who had been the head of the town before the issue of upgrade came to being.

Not satisfying with the position of the consenting authority, Akinyemi approached the court to obtain injunction.

In a in a letter written by SOJI OYETAYO & CO. BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & CORPORATE CONSULTANTS dated 30th December, 2022 and addressed to
THE CHAIRMAN, CHIEFTAINCY REVIEW COMMITTEE, STATE SECRETARIAT, ABERE OSUN STATE maintained that Akinyemi is the rightful candidate appointed for installation as the Onikajola of Kajola-ljesa

“We have been consulted and our professional services retained by PRINCE JOHNSON OLADOKUN AKINYEMI of C17, Iloro Street, Kajola-ljesa, Atakunmosa West Local Government Area, Osun State of Nigeria (hereinafter called “our client”) and we have the firm instruction of our client to present this humble petition to you as
follows:-

“Kajola-ljesa is one of the towns under Atakunmosa West Local Government Area, Osun State of Nigeria and the head of the said community is now known and called Onikajola of Kajola-ljesa after the Osun State Government upgraded it to Part 2 Chieftaincy under the Chiefs Law of Osun State (formerly known as Looja of Kajola-ljesa).

“Late Chief Jeremiah lyun Adeyinka who died on the 23rd day of July, 2007 was the immediate past Looja of Kajola-ljesa, Atakunmosa West Local Government Area, Osun State of Nigeria.

“Our client is the rightful candidate appointed for installation as the Onikajola of Kajola-ljesa. Atakunmosa West Local Government Area, Osun State of Nigeria by the Atakunmosa West Local Government Chieftaincy Committee under the Ijesa South Traditional Council.

“Kajola-ljesa is is presently under a ljesa South Traditional Council which came into being on the 31 day of July, 2009 via the Osun State of Nigeria Gazette No. 1, Vol. 23 and was officially inaugurated on the 30th day of June, 2010 by the then Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Attached herewith is a copy of the said Government Gazette”

Speaking, yesterday at the instance of the crisis that would have occurred following the invasion of the town by some security men who came to arrest some youths on the heel of the petition allegedly written against them, Biodun Ogunleye said the governor and the Assembly’s intervention will avert looming communal clash over the lingering royal tussle.

Ogunleye said, “Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Adewale Egbedun, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and security agencies in the state, should intervene in the matter before the situation degenerates to anarchy and bloodletting in the peaceful community.

“The town of Kajola Ijesa was a peaceful town until 2010 when the need to change from Baale to Oba arose. The matter is sub-judice so we won’t delve too much on it but we implore the government to set up a committee and review what exactly is happening in the town as there was a near breakdown of law and order today, reminiscent of what happened at Araromi Òwu yesterday when a gallant officer by name Shittu Wasiu Kehinde lost his life and others were fatally wounded too.

“The documents therein will give the government some light on the issue as the peace of Osun State is sacrosanct”.

It would be recalled that some residents of the town had on Thursday , February 15, 2024 protested against the installation of a new monarchs

The protesting residents while venting their anger on the planned government decision according to Daily Post, blocked the Osogbo-Ilesha road as they began their match.

A prince of the town, Akinyemi Benjamin, speaking with journalists said the installation of Aderibigbe Omirin was illegal as he was a traditional ruler from Ilase.

“Aderibigbe was once a king in Ilase and it is impossible to oversee another town.

“The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde is the counsel to Omirin and the case is presently pending at the Court of Appeal, Akure,” he alleged.

Iyaloja of Kajola, Iyabo Adegbobi also appealed to the state government to immediately intervene in the matter to avert a communal clash in the town.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi said the state government was aware of the protest.

“My counterpart at the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is handling the matter.”