Abeokuta: Sina ODUNTAN
Published, Tuesday, June 13, 2023
THERE SEEMS TO NO END TO OBASHIP crisis that engulfs the Agosasa community in Ipokia Local Government area of Ogun State since September 2022 as the two contending groups have different versions of the culture, custom and tradition of the Agosasa people.
The head of the kingmakers, Chief Awode Oladosu, Aro of Agosasa said the immediate past monarch was from Ariselogbe Ruling House from Agosasa Isale whether the late Oba built his personal house or lived at Agosasa Oke.
But Otunba Akeem Adigun, the Otunba Agosasa posited that since the family compound of the late monarch, Oba James Oyebi Elegbede is located at Agosasa Oke Ariselogbe ruling house belongs to Agosasa Oke.
According to Chief Awode Oladosu, Agosasa is divided into two communities, Agosasa Oke and Agosasa Isale, each side has two ruling houses, Agosasa Oke has Fadeyi-Alaga and Olowo-Ologunba ruling houses. While Agosasa Isale has Ariselogbe and Kuemi Ajadi ruling houses. The late Oba James Oyebi Elegbede, Oja of Agosasa, came from Ariselogbe ruling house from Agosasa Isale.
However, speaking to journalists virtually on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, Otunba Akeem Adigun submitted that the crisis was politically motivated.
He insisted that since the late Oba James Oyebi Elegbede had been instructed by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs before his death not to appoint any new chief until the crisis in the Agosasa Council of Chiefs in 2020, any chief appointed by the late Oba was invalid, saying that the crisis was unresolved until the Oba Elegede died on February 21, 2022.
Thedispatch sighted the purported letter with reference number CHM. 3/22/311 dated 27th February 2020 signed by Adesoji Adewuyi, Director of Chieftaincy Affairs of Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the “Declaration … for the Selection to the Bale of Agosasa Chieftaincy made on April 15, 1961.
Both documents substantiated Otunba Adigun on the instruction or order contained in the letter from the Ministry, but the ‘Declaration to the Bale Chieftaincy of Agosasa only named the kingmakers as Oga Ilu Oke, Oga Ilu Isale, Balogun Oke, Balogun Isale and Bale Eyo, which the other party said had been harmonized since the Agosasa Bale was upgraded to coronet Oba in 1997.
Chief Fatai Ajibola, the Oga Ilu, Agosasa, corroborating Aro of Agosasa, Chief Awode Oladosu, said until 1997, Baale was the traditional ruler of Agosasa. The stool of Oja of Agosasa was upgraded in 1997 by the military administrator of Ogun State, Wing Commander Sam Ewang.
Oga Ilu of Agosasa said the traditional process that divided the town into two and made the town to have two sets of the same chiefs were harmonized.
“By the harmonization, we then have Oga Ilu Agosasa and Balogun Agosasa for the whole town. Aro chieftaincy title which was erroneously sidetracked by the 1961 Declaration was properly placed in its rightful position as the head of the Agosasa Kingmakers. Others are Oga Ilu, Baba Ilu, Balogun, Bale Eyo, Bashorun and Odofin, Chief Ajibola explained.
This paper sighted the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs’ acknowledgement of the covering letter to the harmonized ‘Declaration to the Stool of Oja of Agosasa dated 22nd August 1998’.
On page 11 of the Brochure to commemorate the “Coronation and Official Presentation of Staff of Office and Instrument of Appointment to Oba James Elegbede”, the list of Council of Traditional Chiefs also corroborated that there had been harmonization of the Council of Chiefs.
The brochure to commemorate the “20th Coronation Anniversary” was very explicit on the harmonization.
Chief Fatai Ajibola, the Oga Ilu of Agosasa reiterated that the immediate past monarch, late Oba James Oyebi Elegbede was from Ariselogbe Ruling House from the Agosasa Isale.
He said it’s the turn of the Fadeyi Alaga ruling house from Agosasa Oke. He pointed out that three months after the demise of Oba James Oyebi Elegbede from Ariselogbe Ruling House, Agosasa Isale, the Agosasa Kingmakers requested for the nomination of candidates from Fadeyi Alaga Ruling House from Agosasa Oke.
Chief Ajibola said, initially, there were three aspirants from Fadeyi Alaga Ruling House. The ruling house met and reached consensus by nominating Sunday Akanbi Olasina Adediran Abogunrin for the consideration of the Kingmakers. The Kingmaker had no challenge to elect Oba-elect Sunday Akanbi Olasina Adediran Abogunrin without dissenting voice. He was at Ipebi for two months, receiving various associations and prominent sons and daughters of the town, including visitors when Otunba Akeem Adigun brought one Azeez Akinpelu as the candidate for the stool.
Otunba Akeem Adigun, speaking in another vein, said Azeez Akinpelu was a member of his maternal family. He said it’s the turn of his maternal ruling house which is located at Agosasa Isale from where the immediate past Oba hailed.
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