The lingering chieftaincy dispute in Igbogila, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, has taken a fresh turn as youth leaders and palace representatives accused some traditional chiefs of impersonation and disrespect to the late monarch, following a recent court judgment nullifying their suspension.
The Ogun State High Court sitting in Ilaro had reportedly nullified the suspension of five traditional chiefs and restored the Igbogila Council of Chiefs to its pre-dispute status, a development that has continued to generate reactions within the community.
Speaking on the matter on Tuesday, the Youth Leader of Igbogila, Tetede Suraju, alleged that the crisis began when some chiefs installed individuals into chieftaincy positions without the approval of the late traditional monarch of the town, Oba Ebenezer Osungade Olanloye.
According to him, the action angered the late monarch, and wrote to ministry of Local Government and chieftaincy Affairs through the Yewa Traditional council of Obas head by the Paramount Ruler Oba Kehinde Olugbenle to withdraw their affairs.
Suraju said the late monarch considered the action a direct affront to the palace and traditional authority in the town.
“Some chiefs went ahead to install people as chiefs in Igbogila without the Kabiyesi’s approval, and that was what prompted the late Kabiyesi to suspend them.
“Kabiyesi withdrew them and even wrote to the Ministry of Chieftaincy to communicate his decision. So for anyone to now act as if nothing happened is unfair to the truth.”
He further alleged that rather than submit to the authority of the palace, the affected chiefs took the monarch to court, arguing that he had no power to withdraw their titles.
Suraju also claimed that some respected monarchs frowned at the conduct of one of the chiefs, Bashorun Atanda Yinusa Ajibade, accusing him of acting beyond his position.
“Ajibade should simply apologise, to be candid,” he said. “Was he a king before he went ahead to install another chief while a reigning monarch was on the throne? That was the root of the problem.”
According to the youth leader, efforts were made in the past to resolve the dispute out of court after the matter was referred back home for settlement
but Bashorun Akinlolu Atanda Ajibade and his members insisted the matter is still in court that they can’t settle it.
He explained that a committee was set up to resolve the matter comprising the Akogun of the town Chief Charles Kayode Olaotan as chairman, the Masa of the town Chief Amidu Oyedele Bamgbade as secretary while Iyaloja of Igbogila, Chief Mrs Janet Omolegbe as a member of the committee .
However, he alleged that some of the chiefs later impersonate the Iyaloja and falsely claimed that she participated in a peace meeting and endorsed a settlement.
“They said the matter had been resolved and that Iyaloja was present, but she was not there,” Suraju alleged. “That is not only false, it is a serious act of impersonation.”
The youth leader also said the Olu of Ilaro was also aware of the dispute and had written to the Ministry of Chieftaincy on the matter.
He added that while the chiefs were now claiming to have withdrawn their case following the death of the late monarch, the controversy over the alleged impersonation and the process leading to the court judgment had left many questions unanswered in the community.
The youth leader also said one of the major allegations against the suspended Chiefs was their use of personal bank accounts to collect money on behalf of the community, a practice he described as unacceptable and lacking transparency.
According to him, the suspension letter explicitly stated that the chiefs used their individual accounts to receive funds meant for the community.
“The suspension letter clearly stated that they used their personal accounts to collect money on behalf of the community. This formed part of the gross misconduct that led to their suspension,” the youth leader said.
Backing the allegation, the Iyaloja of Igbogila, denied taking part in any reconciliation meeting or endorsing any settlement document presented in court.
She described the claims as false and insisted that her name was used without her consent.
“I was not present at any meeting where the matter was resolved and I did not sign any agreement.
“Everything they presented in court in my name was false. I did not hold any meeting with them, and I am disowning any document or claim suggesting that I was part of such an arrangement.”
