Olu of Orile-Ilawo Disowns Chiefs Over Illegal Land Sales, Insubordination

The Olu of Orile-Ilawo kingdom, in Ogun State, Oba Professor Alexander Olusegun MacGregor has disowned the Oluwo of Ilawo, Chief Oluwole Dosunmu, the Balogun of Ilawo, Chief Abraham Soyoye, Jagunna of Ilawo, Fatai Sodimu and seven others, over their involvement in the illegal sales of community lands, insubordination, flagrant disrespect to the royal stool and constituted authority.

Addressing journalists in his palace, Oba MacGregor who was flanked by some Chiefs, said the town has been battling with the uncouth actions of the self-proclaimed Chiefs who continue to sell lands belonging to the people of the community with impunity while faking themselves to be Chiefs in Ilawo town.

He said, the so-called ‘Chiefs’ continue to use the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso as their shield, thereby going against the prescribed authority of Ilawo, who happens to be the Olu of Orile Ilawo.

He noted that the self-proclaimed Chiefs never get any ramifications from him, neither do they represent Ilawo, but their selfish interests in illegal dispossession of the people’s land.

Oba MacGregor alleged that the three Chiefs and other illegal Chiefs have sold not less than 1,600 acres of land without having the authority to do so.

He said Ilawo stool has been in existence for long, but was only resuscitated during the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, hence the stool cannot be subservient to the Osile of Oke Ona Egba.

Oba Professor MacGregor said that Ilawo is known for industrious people, and prosperous people.

“I am the Olu Of Orile Ilawo kingdom, I say that unreservedly, I am also the prescribed authority over Ilawo and all areas traditionally associated with Ilawo, no matter where they are, whether it be in Odeda local government, Abeokuta North local government, Ewekoro, Ifo and Obafemi/Owode local government, all the places where Ilawo has settled, where we practice our customs and tradition, I am the prescribed authority over the people and the domain that they exist.

“Our stool is ancient, the Olu of Orile Ilawo represents the original migration of people who came to this place. That is why we picked Orile to represent the stool. We are not speaking about new settlements. We are not speaking about people who just came here 50 years ago, even 100 years we’re talking about a settlement that was there way before Abeokuta was formed,

“The province of Abeokuta came to being in 1830 and before Abeokuta came to being, Ilawo has been in existence as a group and a tribe of people coexisting, practising their customs, the traditions, and united by a common ground.

The monarch therefore said the Osile of Oke Ona cannot continue to be the prescribed authority for Ilawo because Ilawo has a King, therefore warned Samson Oluwole Dosunmu, Abraham Adebayo Adisa and Fatai Sodimu, to stop parading themselves as Oluwo, Balogun and Jagunna of Ilawo because they have not been recognized by the Olu of Orile Ilawo.

Oba Professor Macgregor said the actions of these confessed Chiefs negate the Omoluabi ethos that Ilawo is known for and he cannot fold his arms and allow the names of the good people of Ilawo to be dragged into the mud all in the name of land-grabbing.

Speaking on behalf of the sacked chiefs, the Oluwo of Ilawo, Chief Oluwole Dosunmu said that the chiefs have committed no crime and that whatever they have done if any, has the approval of the community.

The 80-year-old community leader said that it was even surprising that it was from newspapers and radio that they were hearing about the allegations levelled against them, saying that there had been no official communication from the royal father to the sacked chiefs.

He said, “We have not done any wrong and whatever we have done is by the community. We have our certificates as recognized chiefs from the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso.

“We are even surprised that it is on the radio that we are hearing that we have sold land at Alagbagba village. It is not as if we have seen any letter on this allegation.

“I have called those concerned too but the truth is that we have not done anything wrong. I have called other chiefs and we will definitely see how to get back to you journalists either by calling you to a meeting or by sending a message to you”.