Ruling Houses in Iree have ascribed the crisis that led to the burning of the Palace of Aree by some hoodlums as attempt by some individuals to create atmosphere of chaos in the town.
Representatives of five of the Ruling Houses, who spoke with newsmen at a briefing in Iree on Friday said the town has been peaceful since the enthronement of Aree, Oba Raphael Ademola Oluponle on November 7.
InsightMedia gathered that some hoodlums invaded the town on Thursday, attacked residents of the town before setting a section of the Palace ablaze.
The princes, Olatunji Gbemiga, (Oyekun ruling house), Adeleke Wasiu, (Larooye ruling house) Jimoh Lawal, (Iyoonla ruling house), Oyerinde Fatai, (Ojo Ayagaga ruling house) and Prince Olaniyi Sulaiman, (Olubokun ruling), speaking on behalf of the ruling houses, said since the Oba Ademola Oluponle was installed as Aree, the community was peaceful untill Thursday when some political hoodlums unleashed terror on some resident and set the palace ablaze to give impression that there is crisis in the town.
“They called on the security agencies in the state to investigate the disruption with a view to bringing the culprits to justice, adding that Chief Aogun, Soliyu Atoyebi’s arrest has nothing to do with Aree’s issue.
“As you all aware, on the 7th of November, 2022, a new King, Oba Ademola Raphel Oluponle was installed in Iree as the new Aree of Iree, after following all necessary procedures and traditional rites as laid down by the Chieftaincy Law of Osun State. For close to a month now, Iree has been so peaceful and orderly since Oba Ademola resumed to the palace hosting dignitaries from within and outside the town.
“Sadly, yesterday December 1, 2022, some suspected hoodlums stormed the road leading to the palace and also attacked the palace, burning some items, under the disguise that the Aogun of Iree, Chief Saliu Atoyebi was arrested for what up till this morning remain unknown to us and we strongly believe it has nothing to do with Aree throne.
“As if that was not enough, the hoodlums entered houses of individuals in Iree, attacking them, destroying their properties all in their effort to create an impression that there is crisis in the town over Obaship.
“Those that led the attacked were, one Gbadamosi Ibrahim popularly called Gbedu, a notorious thug who is always involve in disrupting the peace of the town; and his cohorts including Ajayi Abiodun (Oluomo), Adebayo Taye (Taye Kerosene), Waidi Agunbiade and Jimoh Saje among others. We have reported those that spearheaded the attack to the police”.
