There was protest in Iloro Ekiti in Ijero Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Monday as a section of the town trooped to the streets to protest alleged dictatorship and assault by the newly installed Oluloro, Oba Femi Olugbesoye.
The protesters, comprising chiefs, youths and women, matched round the town with traditional stick called Apasa, which was regarded as a taboo and signalled ominous sign for any monarch.
Addressing journalists during the protest, the Aro of Iloro kingdom, Chief Samuel Agbaje, accused the government of imposing Olugbesoye despite rejection by Ifa divination and the entire town last year September.
Agbaje said the decision later led to attacks on perceived opponents of the monarch as gun-wielding hoodlums attacked his house and the homes of Messrs Adelerin Abioye, Chief Ayo Joseph Osasoke, Chief Michael Ogundele and the head of women wing, Chief Alice Eegunjobi, last week with intention to banishing them from the town.
According to him, “Oba Olugbesoye was not the choice of the town. He was imposed on us from outside which was alien to our tradition and we won’t accept it.
“When the late Oba Olu Arowolo was installed 50 years ago when there was no modernity and democracy, the process was democratic. People made their own choice. The whole town was involved. If that could happen at that time, why should this happen now? Few people came from outside to install him.
“There must be a review of his kingship. It has not reached the stage when we will go to court because we believe the government will address the issue properly, but if it fails, we will go to court.
“Last Friday, the house of Are Oluwo worldwide, Chief Michael Ogundele was attacked. His house was riddled with bullets around 12 midnight. It was because of his opposition to the installation and this must stop.”
Narrating how the alleged attacked happened recurrently, Agbaje said, “We are being oppressed and attacked here. Thugs attacked us on February 2 and Ayo Joseph Osasoke and myself were beaten up by thugs. We reported to the police but nobody was arrested. That emboldened them to accost me on February 28 and started same thing. This is unacceptable and we have to seek redress.”
Also speaking, the Sajowa of the town, Chief Olusegun Ogundele, said, “We were here on September 9, 2019, when some soldiers and police bombarded the town. They teleguided our kingmakers to come with one Ifa divinator. Despite that they brought the Ifa priest, Olugbesoye had the worst Ifa ranking among the three candidates presented.
“Since he became the king, no traditional rite has been done and this could bring calamity. We wrote series of petitions to government, council of traditional rulers, but nothing was done.”
Reacting to the allegations, Oba Olugbesoye said the protesters only engaged in senseless blackmail because it was the turn of his dynasty to fill the vacant stool after the demise of Oba Olu Arowolo.
Oba Olugbesoye of the Arojojoye ruling house said it was the opponents that were heating up the polity by shunning every meeting convened by the police and government to resolve the issue, adding that he was not imposed on the town as alleged.
Appealing to his opponents to embrace peace and cooperate with him, Oba Olugbesoye said, “They were the ones causing trouble. They cut the trees in the town just to put me at risk of death, because that can only be done for a dead king. It is the turn of my house to produce the king. Mr Olu Aje that they presented belongs to another dynasty.
“All those who contested against me had embraced my kingship. They have been doing all manners of abominable things and I appeal to them to work for the peace of the town because I will be the last person to sponsor thugs to attack any of my subjects.”
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