From Baale To Oba: The inside Story Of The Transformation Of Agbowo

On April 17, 2023, the Osun State Government approved the elevation of the Baale of Agbowo, Chief Musibau Gbenusola, to Part II status under the Chiefs’ Law (Cap. 25) Law of Osun State. This effectively raised the status of Chief Gbenusola, who was first appointed as Baale in 2018, to that of Oba.

Moments after this development became public knowledge, a letter purporting Chief Gbenusola’s suspension as Baale by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akabi, Telu I, surfaced on the social media. In the April 6, 2023 letter, Oluwo had claimed Chief Gbenusola have no historical link to Agbowo, and as such, holding the title of the Baale of the settlement would be an aberration.

“You’re enjoined to stop parading yourself as Baale. Failure to adhere this strictly will be an affront which may not be entertained by the Oluwo In Council,” the letter had warned.

But findings by this newspaper revealed that Oluwo letter came just few days after he was intimated of the State Government decision to elevate Chief Gbenusola to the status of Oba. It is usually customary for the State Government to inform a foremost traditional ruler exercising influence over an area it plans to exercise constitutional authority on chieftaincy matter.

It was however after Oluwo became aware of the State Government decision that he took the step to suspend Chief Gbenusola as the Baale of Agbowo even though he has been in that position for five years.

How did it all began?

Chief Gbenusola first settled in Agbowo twenty-one years ago. At that time, the settlement, which is a few distance away from the popular Odo-Ori market, was home to wild animals as human beings are barely inhabitants there.

“When Chief Gbenusola settled in Agbowo, it was just an empty land occupied by tick bush and wild animals,” Prince Tadese Adedeji went through the memory lane. Before Chief Gbenusola settled in Agbowo, he recalled, he held the traditional title of Eesiki of Feesuland under Baale Oparonke. The Eesiki is the second in command to the Baale by tradition.

It was gathered that Agbowo is a part of Feesuland bequeathed on them by Oluwo at the point of their settlement, but was parted off sometimes in the early 80s for government mass housing estate. There was however no serious interest in the area after the project failed, leaving the large expanse of land unutilized for so many years.

It was this sad reality that prompted Chief Gbenusola to seek the leave of the Baale of Feesu to move to Agbowo twenty-one years ago to pursue its development, another source informed this paper. “When he (Gbenusola) got here (Agbowo), there is no presence of anything. Everywhere was empty and the sights and sounds of animals is what you will always come across,” he narrated.

But Chief Gbenusola, he added, was determined to change the face of the area, and begin to install infrastructures and businesses that will attract the interest of people to settle in Agbowo. “He (Gbenusola) established sawmill factory, connect the area to electricity grid, built shopping complex and numerous buildings that propelled other people to come and settle in Agbowo,” he stressed.

The transformation to Baale

As the Eesiki of Feesuland, Chief Gbenusola leveraged his relationship with the late Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Olatunbosun Tadese to pave the way for the elevation of the Baale of Feesuland to part II status under the Chiefs’ Law (Cap. 25) Law of Osun State. Upon his ascension to the throne, the Oba of Feesuland elevated Chief Gbenusola to the status of Baale of Agbowo as a show of appreciation for his role in his elevation.

The installation of Chief Gbenusola as Baale in 2018 was graced by government officials, politicians, traditional rulers and other distinguished personalities, including Prince Adelani Akanbi, the Aremo of Oluwo. It was learnt that Prince Akanbi attended the event as a representative of the Oluwo of Iwoland.

When it was rosy between the Oluwo and the Olu of Agbowo

At the beginning, it was gathered that the Oluwo of Iwoland had a cordial relationship with Chief Gbenusola. Both men are said to maintain a father and son relationship, which at a point, saw the Oba Akanbi delegate Chief Gbenusola to attend events on his behalf.

On August 28, 2021, Oba Akanbi attended the third year anniversary of Chief Gbenusola as the Baale of Agbowo. At that event, the Oluwo commissioned the newly built palace of the Baale of Agbowo, underscoring the close relationship that exist between them.

Pictures of the event conveyed the affinity of Oluwo and Agbowo, as they were surrounded by the wives of Chief Gbenusola in a joyous mood. Both men could also be seen walking around the compound.

“Chief Gbenusola has a lot of respect for the Oluwo of Iwoland just like a son to his father. And they enjoyed good relationship until recently when I suspect some people may have misinformed Kabiyesi (Oba Akanbi) on the true situation of Agbowo,” Prince Tadese noted.

Suspension and its reversal on Agbowo

On April 6, 2023, the Oluwo had authorized a letter to suspend the Baale of Agbowo from his position. This suspension came only few days after the Oluwo became aware of the State Government decision to elevate Chief Gbenusola to the status of Oba.

The action of the Oluwo, it was gathered, was not received well by the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who viewed the decision as a direct attack on him. Sources informed that the governor was at loss on why the Oluwo waited until he decided to elevate Chief Gbenusola before coming up with the suspension.

He was said to have registered his displeasure with the Oluwo, who however made efforts to convince the governor that it has nothing to do with him.

“The Governor (Adeleke) was not pleased with the action of the Oluwo as it was clearly targeted at him,” one of the sources shared, noting that “He (Adeleke) cannot understand why Oba Akanbi did not see all the reasons he cited for the suspension of Chief Gbenusola for five years that he had been Baale until his administration wanted to elevate him.”

When the reservation of the Governor got to the attention of the topmost body in Iwo, the Iwo Board of Trustees (IBoT), they took steps to arrest the situation. In a letter dated April 7, 2023, the IBoT had conveyed the decision of the Oluwo to reverse the suspension of Chief Gbenusola to Governor Adeleke.

“The board wishes to inform your Excellency that following the intervention of prominent and eminent Iwo sons and daughters, His Royal Majesty, the Oluwo of Iwo, had reversed the suspension placed on the Baale of Agbowo (Adebiopon) with immediate effect,” the letter signed by its President, Professor Lai Olurode, reads in part.

This development paved the way for the State Government to go ahead with the elevation of Chief Gbenusola to the status of Oba.