Tension in Ido Community Over Removal of Monarch

There is tension in Ido, Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, following the removal of the Onido and  appointment of Baale of Ido (a lesser chief) by the Olubadan-In-Council.

There are two traditional rulers- the Baale, Alhaji Muritala Babalola and  the Onido, Chief Tajudeen Adelani Akinola Agura.

Since Agura’s removal, youths have insisted on his restoration.

Some elders have kicked against the title of Baale.

The group loyal to Babalola is said to be warming up to check any attack from the opposing side.

A resident, Pa Ramoni Gbadamosi, said: “We hope a sense of reason will prevail at the end. This is the third time they will remove traditional ruler in this town within 14 years.

“It is surprising that they have now decided to tamper with history, when they decided to remove the age-long title of the Onido of Ido.

“All that is paramount to us now is peace because we don’t know what will happen when we have two kings in a small town like this.”

Agura in a letter by his lawyer, Dare Adebayo, described the appointment of Baale of Ido as illegal, null and void.

He argued that the title of Baale of Ido is alien to the declaration under Section 4(2) of the Chiefs Law 1952 of the Customary Law regulating the selection to the Onido of Ido chieftaincy.

In the three-page protest letter addressed to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the petitioner said the title of Onido of Ido was recognised in Part II of the chieftaincy Law of Oyo State directly under the governor.

He added that Babalola is not a member of Agura family as laid down by the Declaration under Section 4(2) of the Chiefs Law 1957, noting he was never nominated at Agura family meeting.