Residents of Olorunda community in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State have called on the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, to intervene in the alleged plan to impose one Segun Ogunsola Philip as the Orunda of Olorunda.
They made the call on Wednesday while protesting at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ogun State Council, in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
The residents were armed with placards carrying various inscriptions such as “Ogunsola is not from Olorunda,” “Don’t turn Olorunda into a war zone,” “He can never be upgraded,” “There is an existing Baale in Olorunda,” and “Government should start listening to the poor and powerless on obaship issues.”
While appealing to Governor Abiodun to step in and prevent a breakdown of law and order in the community, they maintained that Ogunsola was from Gbagura land and not Olorunda community.
Speaking with newsmen, the Secretary of Kesan Orile/Olorunda community, Chief Oguntade Johnson, stated that the demonstration was to express their grievances and rejection of Ogunsola as their monarch.
Johnson noted that Ogunsola, if installed by the state government, would bring about chaos and bloodshed.
He said, “Firstly, I want to commend our Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for his excellent performance in Ogun State and his commitment towards ensuring the security of lives and property.
“The reason why we are here today is the issue of Olorunda. Olorunda is under Yewa in Abeokuta North Local Government. We only install a Baale in Olorunda and not a king. We already have an acting Baale; his name is Chief Ashamu Adegbola Agbomabiwo. 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.
“We are calling on the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiu Hamzat; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Oluwashina Ogungbade; the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo; and the 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 speaking, the youth leader of Kesan Orile, Oyeyemi Abegunrin, disclosed that Ogunsola was never a Baale and cannot be upgraded to the status of a king, saying that there is an existing Baale, Chief Ashamu Agbomabiwo, who is under Omola of Imala land.
“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 cannot rule us in Olorunda?”
“We want to call on the Ogun State Government to come to our aid in addressing this issue so that it will not lead to a crisis in the community. We are peaceful, but we will not allow non-indigenes to rule us.”