••• No Crisis Brewing In Ilawo, My Akogun Chieftaincy Title Followed Due Process - Chief Ogunsanya
I could not have been made Akogun of Ilawo without due process carried out by all the chiefs starting from Oluwo, Balogun and Osi himself. They went through the due process and upgraded my chietaincy from Apagunpote to Akogun of Ilawo. And the issue of Oba, I have loads of evidences available to proof beyond reasonable doubt that there is absolutely no crisis
| The Daily Crucible | Monday, October 17, 2022
By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Crisis of a frightening proportion - the kind that recently ruptured peace and harmony in parts of Agosasa community in Ipokia with the attendant loss of lives and property worth millions of naira, May erupt in Orile Ilawo in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State if urgent steps were not taken by relevant authorities to douse the seething volcano of anger of the residents and indigenes over the town's traditional stool.
The hitherto sombre residents of the town may be up in arms against one another over chieftaincy crisis following the death of their monarch, Oba Aina who joined his ancestors about a year ago.
The Daily Crucible learnt that an alleged daring attempts being made by one of the Chiefs, Chief Lawrence Ogunsanya, to foist himself on the people ostensibly to succeed the late monarch, were perceived by many as touching raw nerves in some quarters and may be resisted violently if the trend continued.
Chief Ogunsanya, some residents of the town claimed, had been installed as the Akogun of Orile Ilawo in questionable circumstance following the suspension of Chief Wasiu Balogun in alleged bids to become the next traditional leader of the people.
Chief Balogun whom the residents identified as the installed Akogun of Ilawo in 2016 by the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, was however suspended following accusation from some chiefs in Ilawo that he was involved in an unethical land matters, but Chief Wasiu Balogun had denied the allegation, dismissing it as false.
Despite the denial and findings, the town's Chiefs went ahead and suspended Wasiu Balogun and afterwards, installed another person as Akogun of Orile Ilawo in a manner deemed by some residents as being less than satisfactory.
Chief Lawrence Ogunsanya was therefore that person eventually installed as a replacement for Chief Wasiu Balogun, who was merely suspended in a manner that reeks of travesty of justice and fair hearing, in July 2022, a source told our reporter.
This has therefore generated reactions and crisis in the town as the residents believe that Chief Wasiu Balogun was unjustly treated.
The action made Chief Balogun petitioned Oba Tejuoso on the illegality and called for the redressing of the injustice.
A source added that "what broke the camel's back was that few weeks after his installation, Chief Ogunsanya has continued to root for how he is going to succeeded late Oba Aina as the Olu of Orile Ilawo.
Speaking to our correspondent, the Osi of Ilawo, Chief Olufade directed our correspondent to Oluwo of Orile Ilawo, saying that he holds a minor title compared to the Oluwo of the town.
"Yes it's only Oluwo that has the right to speak to you on the matter you asked me." - Chief Olufade stated.
One of the chiefs of the town when contacted, said "all that you were told are true, but it will be better if you can speak with those concerned."
Narrating his side of the story, Chief Wasiu Balogun said he was not around when the whole drama started, "I was in Ghana then, and they told me that they wanted to install Apagunpote, but not knowing that what they intend to do is to depose me.
"I know that these people are on wild goose chase, they can not remove me as Akogun of Ilawo, I was properly installed by his Majesty, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso and indigenes of the town, so all what they are doing is just drama.
"Though I was not born with any Chieftaincy title, but I am a full Ilawo son, my maternal and paternal homes are from Ilawo, and nobody can send me away from my home."
He vowed to defend what is his, calling on authorities to wade into the crisis rocking the town.
Reacting, Chief Lawrence Ogunsanya said he was properly installed as the Akogun of Ilawo by traditional chiefs who have the authority to make him so.
Noting that only God makes one a king, Chief Ogunsanya declared that Wasiu Balogun's case as a pathetic one, saying campaign of calumny is not going to help him.
He explained that Wasiu was removed from his post for a reason and urged whoever doubted it to go cross check with the Ilawo council of chiefs to verify it.
He said, "First, Orile Ilawo is in Odeda local government not Abeokuta North. Second, I could not have been made Akogun of Ilawo without due process carried out by all the chiefs starting from Oluwo, Balogun and Osi himself. They went through the due process and upgraded my chietaincy from Apagunpote to Akogun of Ilawo. And the issue of Oba, I have loads of evidences available to proof beyond reasonable doubt that there is absolutely no crisis.
"Wasiu Balogun's case is a pathetic one. All these campaign of calumny is not going to work. He was removed from the post for a reason. Please check with the Ilawo council of chiefs to verify your claim particularly the Oluwo who is the head of the council as Osi, Chief Onifade directed. Osi was part of the decision.
"According to them, Wasiu Balogun went behind the whole Ilawo clan particularly, Ilawo council of chiefs and sold all the Ilawo lands in conjuction with Olu Igbore which was what led to his removal.
"The council of chiefs must have thought it through before considering his removal. He is deemed not projecting the clan well.
"On the Oba issue, it is only God who appoints kings. The sactity of monarchy in Yoruba land has preservation of history embedded in it and it is unarguably one of the few reasons why Yoruba traditional systems and values have garnared so much respect and admiration over the years. I am Chief Lawrence Atanda Ogunsanya.
"My great great grand parents created more than 194 villages in Orile Ilawo and oke ogun including Alagbagba. They found with those who liberated Egba from Oyo. Evidences are available and verifiable. Oral and written. This is the same place the stool was created for, Olu Ilawo, Alagbagba and I am a direct blood line with verifiable history. Purity is attractive. Both my father's side and mother's side are from Ilawo. I am a pure breed. If there are other candidates, please let them come forward with their history to establish who they are in Orile Ilawo and township. Ilawo clan has every right to be governed by an original blood line, not an alien."
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