Tension Grips Ondo Community Over Plan To Install Parallel Monarch

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

Palpable tension has gripped residents of Agbeja community in Akure North Local Government area of Ondo State over the plan to install a parallel traditional ruler in the rural community.

Already, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi Ogunlade had 10 years ago installed Sunday Ijalana as the traditional head of Agbeja community. The Oloba of Oba-Ile, Oba Joseph Agunbiade also by installing him as the head of the same community.

However, the plan to install one Sunday Fayehun as another traditional ruler of the same community after 10 years after Ijalana was installed was causing tension in Agbeja and other neighbouring communities in the local government as rival monarchs are planning showdown over the installation fixed for tomorrow.

Ijalana, in a petition to Inspector General of Police by his lawyer, Mr. Richard Alomore alleged that one Sunday Fayehun, Aina Kikiowo, Saka Oluwayemi, Olamide Omole (Osuloye), and their thugs were on the verge of causing a bloodbath in the community as a result illegally selling of lands with forged receipt of Arora family.

Ijalana alleged that Fayehun and others falsely claimed to be head of the Arowa family and unlawfully evicted lawful occupants from their land with the assistance of hired thugs in the Agbeja community.

The traditional ruler said a judgment in suit No: AK/150/2013 said Fayehun was adjudged to be a nonmember of the Arora family and has no legal right to the community.

It was also alleged that the community is currently bereft of peace, law, and order as Fayehun employed machinery of thugs to evict lawful occupants from their lands.

The petition said “Sunday Fayehun and coconspirators were falsely disseminating and publicizing information that he had been removed by Oba J.O. Agunbiade, the Oloba of Oba-Ile and that he has been appointed by Oloba of Oba-Ile as the new Olu of Ageja community.

The petitioner, however, called on the police authorities as a matter of expediency to wade into the matter by effecting the arrest of Mr. Sunday Fayehun and his accomplices in another forestall any further act capable of disrupting the peace in the Agbeja community.

He also urged the police to conduct a discreet investigation into the allegations and prosecute the culprits.