Osogbo Indigenes Protest Over Alleged Plans By Govt To Depose Ataoja Of Osogboland

—Rumoured Dethronement Falsehoods, Gov

Some indigenes of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, on Thursday thronged the streets of the town to protest against alleged plans by state government to dethrone Ataoja of Osogboland , Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, Larooye ll.

CityMirrorNews reports that over 56 Osogbo traditional Chiefs and 65 Heads of Village(Baale) led hundreds indigenes of the ancient town to stage the peaceful protest against the alleged planned dethronement of their monarch.

Armed with placards with various inscriptions such as; “Don’t Cause Confusion In Osogbo”, “Stop the Attempt to Sepose Oba Jimoh”, “Efura oo, Ijoba Ipinle Osun Fe da rukerudo Sile” “Ataoja of Osogbo Is our king” among others.

The Baales and Chiefs who gathered at the residence of Baale’s Chairman, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh warned the State government under the leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola not to embark on such moves.

They said the current attempt being made by the State Government is capable of disrupting the existing peace in Osogbo and Osun State in general. They added that such move is an attempt to usurp the power and function of the Judiciary to adjudicate on the matter currently pending in the Court of Law and it is highly prejudicial to and contemptuous of the process of the Honourable Court of Osun State.

Speaking with newsmen on behalf of others, The Asipa of Osogboland, Chief Ajadi Badmus revealed that he and Governor Oyetola had a conversation yesterday evening (Wednesday) and the Governor told him that no such plan exist.

He said: “We have been inundated with rumour that the State government is planning to depose Ataoja of Osogbo and we have reacted appropriately. I personally authored a letter that is flying on social media.

“Yesterday night around 11pm, the Governor called me and informed me that no such plan exist. So I’m here to brief our people of the conversation I had with the Governor.”

Echoing a similar views, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim said “It has come to the notice of the good people of Osogbo land of the clandestine moves by the Osun State Government to depose the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Abidemi Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye II
without any just cause.

“The attempt by the Osun State Government to take this unholy approach is against the backdrop of the existing case instituted by the members of Oluwin Ajibilu/Oyekomi Family of Oyekomi’s Compound, Osogbo in Suit No: HOS/115/2022: PRINCE SAKARIYAU ALABI ADEBIYI & 2 ORS VS HRM OBA JIMOH OLANIPEKUN (ATAOJA OF OSOGBO).

“The 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants represent the Osun State Government and the case is still pending at the High Court of Justice, Osogbo.

“The current attempt being made by the State Government is capable of disrupting the existing peace in Osogbo and Osun State in general. It is equally an attempt to usurp the power and function of the Judiciary to adjudicate on the matter currently pending in the Court of Law and it is highly prejudicial to and contemptuous of the process of the Honourable Court of Osun State.

“It is to be noted that we cannot accept this unlawful attempt which will portray Osun State Government as highly insensitive and blind to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Osun State. The institution of Ataoja of Osogboland is the custodian of our traditional heritage. Attempt to illegally remove the occupant of the exalted office is an affront on our traditional inheritance which shall be resisted legally.

“The people of Osogbo will not allow this to happen and they are ready to resist this insult and blatant conspiracy to cause disunity, chaos, violence and disharmony among the good people of Osogbo and Osun State generally.

“The good people of Osogbo are peace loving and they cannot allow anything that is capable of destroying the existing peace being enjoyed in Osogbo and its environment. enough is enough!”1

While speaking at the Palace of Ataoja, the Osogbo kingmakers also said they unanimously rejected the move by the state government to dethrone the monarch.

The head of the Kingmakers and Ajaguna of Osogboland, Chief Gabriel Ojo Opaniran, who spoke on behalf of other kingmakers, said “Oba Olanipekun is the 16th Ataoja of Osogbo and it has never been in our history that Ataoja was removed. So we won’t allow that to happen.”

He said any attempt to depose the monarch in any quarters would be resisted, adding that the monarch has brought unprecedented development to the ancient town.

Meanwhile, the Governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola has denied the alleged plans to depose the monarch.

Oyetola in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Mr Ismail Omipidan, described the rumour as falsehoods, saying Ataoja is directly under the supervision of Osogbo local government.

“Ordinarily, the Ataoja is directly under the supervision of the Osogbo Local Government. Therefore, the governor has no business per se with his office. Besides, the governor has no issues with Ataoja.

“To this end, I appeal to leaders of thought and clerics in Osogbo to endeavor to find out the truth, know the truth and act based on the truth.

“I also urge the people to disregard the content of this fallacious letter as it does not fit the gentleman’s personality of a governor Osun people and the nation know too well,” Omipidan said.