OGUN COMMUNITIES PROTEST FOUL PLAY IN THE SELECTION OF TRADITIONAL RULER

Landlords, residents and community leaders of all the 63 communities that formed Orile-Ilawo, Alagbagba, in the Odeda Local Government Area in Ogun State, have kicked against the declaration of one Alex McGregor as the Oba-elect of the community.

The residents, on Friday, stormed the palace of the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Osile of Oke Ona, the Ogun State Governor’s office, and other notable places in the state to protest against the choice of McGregor as the Oba-elect of Ilawo.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, including, ‘Our Orile needs a son of the soil; imposition is not allowed, we will not be silenced,’ ‘Traditional values and morals laid by our forefathers have been jettisoned,’ ‘Save us from this menace called McGregor,’ ‘I love Ilawo, where is McGregor from?’ among others.

Speaking on behalf of the 63 baales present, the Baale of Asiwaju Village, Alagbagba, Chief Rafiu Sodiya, who read a petition written to different stakeholders in the state, alleged that the local government authorities connived with some chiefs supporting McGregor to ensure his emergence as the Oba-elect of the community.

He claimed that McGregor was not part of the names screened and presented by the Ilawo council of chiefs to the local government as a potential successor to the stool.

He also alleged that his name was added at the last minute by officials of the council and some chiefs supporting his candidacy.