January 27, (THEWILL) – The stool of Alagodo of Agodo in Ewokoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, whose monarch, Oba Ayinde Odetola, was gruesomely murdered has continued to generate mixed reactions from both Ake and Owu traditional councils.
Recall that Oba Odetola was assassinated on Monday about 11:00am by unknown hoodlums while returning from an outing with three of his associates.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, had in statement ordered security agencies in the state to go after the culprits with the aim of descending the full wrath of the law on them.
Information had it that crisis had continued to erupt in Agodo village between the Ake and Owu people who dominate the community, that an Ake man cannot rule over them.
The crisis was said to have degenerated to the killing and burning of the monarch and his companions in his car beyond recognition.
Reacting to the incident, the Owu traditional council claimed that the late monarch was not known in the community as a traditional ruler, but a land speculator, while the Ake traditional council said his appointment was approved by the state government with effective from 11th April, 2018
In a statement by the Olowu-in-Council, signed by the Akogun of Owu kingdom, Chief Ishola Akinsipo, said that the Agodo community denied their knowledge of any Oba in Agodo village, noting that the purported Olu of Agodo had no physical presence nor a palace in Agodo.
The statement read, “the attention of Olowu-in-Council, Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta has been drawn to the trending media reports about the alleged murder of a traditional ruler in Agodo village in the Asa-Yobo area of Ewekoro Local Government of Ogun State and the insinuation that the incident was prompted by conflict between Owu and Ake people over the kingship in Agodo village.”
“The insinuation is far from the truth, as on no occasion has the Agodo community, with a Baale in situ, contested or applied to Olowu or Alake Egba for the uplifting of their Baale to Coronet. From time immemorial, Agodo village which has been a multi-clan community from Abeokuta, had been in peace until some six years ago when some hoodlums besieged the environment to grab the community’s land.
“Report’s available at our disposal in Owu Kingdom indicate the man, who claimed to be Oba in Agodo village had been involved in land disputes with Agodo people which had caused bad blood among them, accompanied hoodlums and the Agodo community.
“In 2016, for instance, Agodo village was thrown into a turmoil following an alleged attempt by the man and some thugs to bury a corpse in Agodo village as a decoy to establish ancestry to the land.
“By the directive of Olowu Kangunere, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, Olowu of Owu, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, Towulade Akinale was deployed to visit Agodo village and ensure that there was peace.
“The report of a mediative meeting in Agodo, suing for peace and co-existence of the community was published in a news magazine ‘The Village Network’, vol. 3 No 5 (2016).
“The Agodo community as at today, has denied their knowledge of any Oba in Agodo village as the purported Olu of Agodo has no physical presence nor a Palace in Agodo.
“Suffice it to call for enquiry as to who recommended him to both Egba Traditional Council and the Ministry of Local Goverment and Chieftaincy Affairs”, He added.
In a swift reaction to the position of the Olowu-in-Council, a Chief of Agodo, Adekunle Olajide who spoke at Ake palace, stated that late Oba Odetola was duly appointed and approved by the state government through a letter dated 17th April, 2018.
Olajide said that the letter emanated from the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and signed by Director, Chieftaincy Affairs, Dolapo Adewumi dated 17th April, 2018, titled “Appointment as Coronet Oba”, addressed to Oba Odetola Olajide Ayinde, Olu of Agodo.
The letter read, “I have the greatest pleasure to inform Kabiyesi, that in accordance with Sub Section (1) and (2) of Section 25 of the Chiefs Law, Laws of Ogun of Nigeria, 2006, the government of Ogun State of Nigeria has approved your appointment as the first Kabiyesi Alayeluwa Olu of Agodo, Agodo in Ewekoro local government area with effect from 11th April, 2018.”
“Kabiyesi is advised to liaise approximately with the Egba traditional council for their briefing.
As at the time of filling this report, a crucial meeting of Ake and Agodo traditional councils with security operatives was ongoing at the Ake palace.
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