By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
Member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adegoke Adeyanju Awoso has refuted allegations by a faction of suspended Igbogila chiefs accusing him of meddling in the town ongoing obaship selection process, describing their claims as politically motivated, malicious, and an attempt to undermine his reputation.
It would be recalled that the Akogun of Igbogila, Chief Charles Olaotan, who spoke on behalf of the Chiefs, during a press conference held on Tuesday, disclosed that no chiefs were served with the suspension letters, as there was a foul play concerning the said suspension.
Hon. Awoso, who is also the Sobaloju of Igbogila Land, said the chiefs in question were duly suspended by the late Olu of Igbogila, Oba Ebenezer Olanloye, for gross misconduct, corruption, and acts capable of destabilizing the community.
The lawmaker, representing Yewa North (I) while speaking at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat on Thursday, denied sponsoring or instigating recent protests over the obaship matter, stressing that the demonstrations were peaceful expressions of concern by Igbogila youths and community stakeholders frustrated by the prolonged delay in filling the vacant stool.
The press conference had in attendance the first son of the late monarch, Prince Olanloye Olatunde, the Otunba of Igbogila Land, Chief Semiu Akinlolu, the Secretary of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) Igbogila Branch, Pastor Toye Ogunkunle, Princess Olusola Akinola-Adebayo; amongst other community members.
Hon. Awoso also dismissed insinuations that the late monarch was bedridden during the replacement of the chiefs, revealing that there was video evidence of the late Oba personally presiding over the chieftaincy installations, witnessed by government officials, traditional leaders, and media representatives.
According to him “There is no iota of truth in what those discredited chiefs said. They are only on a face-saving mission after being exposed for their inordinate ambition and domineering attitudes.
“I am a lawmaker and not a lawbreaker. I have no interest in the town’s stool or finances. My only concern is peace, unity, and progress in Igbogila. ”
The lawmaker hinted that the suspension of the chiefs was properly carried out by the late monarch with the endorsement of the Yewa Traditional Council, under the leadership of the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, and in line with Igbogila’s customs and traditions.
While speaking on the financial allegations of a ₦1 million donation from BUA Cement meant for the community, Awoso said the funds were transparently redirected to the Igbogila Stakeholders Forum for the town electrification project.
His words “When I discovered they had collected ₦30 million from BUA Cement and shared it among themselves, I queried them immediately. I then donated the ₦1 million sent to me to the Igbogila Stakeholders Forum for the community’s electrification project. ”
The lawmaker also listed several constituency projects he has facilitated, including a police patrol vehicle, modern healthcare centre, boreholes, classrooms, toilets, solar streetlights, and health insurance for residents across Igbogila and other communities in Isokan Constituency.
He reaffirmed his commitment to peace and lawful resolution of the Igbogila obaship crisis, stressing that he would never engage in actions capable of disrupting community harmony.
He therefore commended the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, for their leadership and developmental strides, assuring continued support for government efforts to promote peace and growth in Yewaland.
Also speaking, the Otunba of Igbogila Land, Chief Semiu Akinlolu, said those claiming to be the rightful council members were impostors who had been lawfully replaced by the late Oba Olanloye.
In their their separate remarks, the first son of the late monarch, Prince Olanloye Olatunde, and Princess Olusola Akinola-Adebayo, who led the previous protest, said Hon. Awoso was not aware of the protest, noting that it was a collective expression of the people’s frustration over the prolonged leadership vacuum.
Prince Olanloye denied the claim that his late father was bedridden during the replacement of the chiefs, stating that the late monarch was healthy and actively performed his duties until his passing.
They appealed to the Ogun State Government to intervene urgently and fast-track the process of installing a new monarch rather than allowing the matter to linger in court.