Crisis In Oyo Community Over Choice Of Abiola As Kingmaker In Ago-Are

Crisis is brewing in Alarafa Compound, Isale Bode, Ago-Are in Atisbo South Local Council Development Area of Oyo State over the pronouncement of a new kingmaker (Afobaje) by the Traditional Council of the community.

The pronouncement of Olumuyiwa Oladeji Abiola by the Traditional Council of the community as the new kingmaker from Alarafa compound located in Ago-Are was followed by a stiff opposition from some dissenting voices, leading to violent protest, attack on some members of the Council and destruction of properties.

The Issues gathered that the rampaging hoodlums who were alleged to be members of the same community but from another compound threw decorum into the wind and wrecked havoc on the community as they also destroyed properties in the community.

They alleged that Olumuyiwa Oladeji was chosen not in accordance with laid down rules and regulations as well as dictates of customs and tradition, but due to his father’s influence, claiming that Oladeji is not the most qualified and vow to resist any attempt to install him as the next kingmaker.

But, in a swift response to the allegation making round that Oladeji Abiola is not qualified to be the new kingmaker, one of the High Chiefs in the community, Chief Orimadegun Inaolaji, asked members of the public to disregard the allegation as Oladeji Abiola is more than qualified for the position.

Chief Orimadegun Inaolaji, who spoke with the media on behalf of the Council of Aare Sobaloju Traditional Council of Alarafa Dynasty, Isale Bode in Ago-Are, disclosed that the choice of Olumuyiwa Oladeji Abiola as kingmaker of Alarafa Compound was made by the oracle.

He said, “From the Council of Traditional Chiefs, we want to use this medium to notify you that after consulting oracle and other rituals being conducted by the Council, we have pronounced Olumuyiwa Oladeji Abiola, the person being chosen by the oracle, as the next kingmaker ‘Afobaje’ of the Community and invited him for necessary spiritual rites required by the oracle.

“After the demise of the late kingmaker, Chief Inaolaji Ajao Abiola, it is turn of Mr. Olumuyiwa Oladeji Abiola, who resides outside the community, a son of Pa David Iyiola Abiola as the authentic successor of the late kingmaker in the community of Alarafa Compound, Isale Bode, Ago-Are in Atisbo South Local Council Development Area of Oyo State” as stated.

Tracing the violent protest and attacks allegedly undertaken by some rampaging hoodlums in the community, the High Chief stated that the violent protest and attack was caused by other contestants that felt aggrieved for not picking, just as he explained that the pronouncement was done based on the oracle dictates and the move was not to favour Olumuyiwa Oladeji Abiola but sustain the customs and tradition of the area.

Meanwhile, The Issues’ quest to get possible reaction from Oyo State Police Command on the incident was not forthcoming as all efforts to get Police reaction and intelligence reports on the incident proved abortive as of the time of filing in this report.

– Peter Olaleye, Ibadan

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