Says AG orders demolition of part of his palace
The Iyaloja of Kajola-Ijesa and Atakunmosa Local Government Area, Chief Mrs. Adegboku Ojo Iyabo, and the Baale of Kajola, Johnson Akiyemi Oladokun, have appealed to Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to urgently intervene in the lingering chieftaincy dispute in the community, warning that the prolonged crisis could threaten the peace that Kajola has enjoyed for years.
Speaking during separate interviews, the community leaders alleged that the dispute, which has lasted for over 15 years, was fuelled by the installation of another claimant as the traditional ruler of Kajola despite an ongoing legal battle over the stool.
They also called on the governor to call his Attorney-General and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde to order not to cause trouble in town.
Chief Mrs. Adegboku, who is also the Market Leader of Atakunmosa Local Government, said Kajola had coexisted peacefully for many years until the controversy over the traditional stool emerged.
According to her, the community had never witnessed a situation where the authority of a traditional ruler was transferred from one town to another.
“I have never heard that a king’s authority or palace can simply be moved from one town to another.
Kings are installed according to tradition, but we have never known that a kingship could be transferred,” she said.
The Iyaloja alleged that the individual laying claim to the Kajola throne was originally from Ilase-Ijesa and had always been identified with that community before he was presented as the king of Kajola.
She disclosed that the matter eventually went before the court, where Justice Falola delivered judgment on the dispute.
According to her, although the judgment was later appealed, the case remains pending before the Court of Appeal.
She accused the claimant of creating tension in the community while the appeal is yet to be determined, alleging that he had continued to file petitions against several residents.
Chief Mrs. Adegboku revealed that she was also dragged to court in an attempt to remove her as the Iyaloja of Kajola but said the court ruled in her favour.
She maintained that the descendants of the Oladokun Johnson Akinyemi family remain the original landowners of Kajola and questioned how another individual could claim authority over the community.
The Iyaloja further alleged that the claimant’s family was originally accommodated in Kajola after leaving Ilase-Ijesa and was given land to settle before later purchasing another parcel of land from the Apara family.
She claimed that the disagreement began after attempts were allegedly made to take over the traditional leadership of Kajola, adding that the crisis had resulted in several arrests, police petitions and court cases involving community members.
“I was even arrested while carrying out my duties at the Kajola market. Many youths and residents have also been taken to the police over this issue,” she alleged.
Despite the lingering crisis, she appealed to residents, particularly the youths, to remain peaceful while awaiting government intervention.
She urged Governor Adeleke to constitute an independent committee to thoroughly investigate the matter before the situation degenerates into violence.
“We have spoken on radio stations and taken our complaints to the Osun State Government Secretariat in Abere, but it appears nobody has listened to us. We are pleading with the government to come to Kajola, investigate the matter and establish the truth. Kajola is a peaceful town and we want it to remain so,” she said.
Also speaking, the Baale of Kajola, Johnson Akinyemi Oladokun, accused the Commissioner for Local Government of threatening him with arrest while ordering him to pull down some parts of his palace.
He said, “We were called to a meeting by the Attorney-General, instead of him to see how the crisis can be resolved, he just ordered that I should remove some parts of my palace. He said if I do not demolish it, he will order my arrest.
“I’m calling on the Governor Ademola Adeleke to call him to order. His action can cause crisis in our community. We believe in the rule of law and that’s why we have submitted to the court,” Akinyemi said.
He explained that Kajola traditionally derives its traditional authority from Idominasi, where its rulers have always been installed.
According to him, the father of the rival claimant was only an Aro (chief) in Kajola and was never part of the royal lineage entitled to occupy the traditional stool.
Oladokun alleged that the claimant had earlier sought to become king in Ilase-Ijesa before relocating to Kajola to pursue the kingship.
He said he assumed the Kajola stool on December 24, 2009, with what he described as documentary backing from both the Owa Ijesaland and Idominasi.
The Baale, however, expressed concern over what he described as an attempt by the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland to recognise another individual as the traditional ruler of Kajola.
“We have been facing this problem for over 15 years since I assumed the throne in 2009 with all the necessary documents. We suddenly saw another person being brought to become the king in Kajola,” he said.
The Kajola chieftaincy dispute has continued to generate tension within the community, with both the Iyaloja and the Baale calling on the Osun State Government to urgently investigate the matter and ensure that lasting peace is restored.