The attack on Olu of Igbokoda

IN the twilight of the outgone year, some gangsters invaded the palace of a prominent traditional ruler in Ondo State, the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Ayowole Odidiomo, in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state. Pictures of the traditional ruler posted on different media platforms following the attack were very unsightly. He bled profusely. But for the quick intervention of concerned elders in the community who rushed him to the hospital, Oba Odidiomo would have bled to death, having been left in a pool of his own blood. Enraged by the dastardly act, youths in the community mobilised to unleash terror on the suspected brains behind the attack. They did not care that their acrion had the potential to create anarchy.

As should be expected, the incident provoked anger and protests among traditional rulers in the state. They not only stridently condemned the attack, but also declared that traditional rulers were increasingly the main targets of violent attacks and kidnapping. Consequently, they sent a Save-Our-Soul message to the authorities through the chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas, the Olukare of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh. They described the attack as a collective assault on the entire traditional institution in the state, nay Yorubaland, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspects to serve as a deterrent to other evildoers.

We commend the chairman of the Caretaker Committee in Ilaje Local Government Area, Honourable Fayowole Aworetan, who alerted the state government on the looming danger, and the state deputy governor, Honourable Agboola Ajayi, who moved in fast to calm frayed nerves in his country home. However, there are issues arising from the incident that demand urgent attention. One pertinent issue is the complaint by some traditional rulers under the aegis of “130 Crowns Club” that the supposed ringleader of the gang of attackers and his members were still gallivanting around the town after threatening the peace and security of the community, contrary to the claim by the police that two suspects had been arrested while the ringleader was on the run. We urge the police to investigate this claim and do the needful, as no one should be greater than the laws of the land.

We demand a thorough investigation and prosecution in order to deter others who may believe that might is right and hold the rule of law in disdain. The investigation should address the allegation raised by the traditional ruler that before now, several attempts were made on his life by the gang, who he claimed had the backing of some powerful individuals in the society. Indeed, while the case of the Ondo Oba may not be totally isolated from the general state of insecurity across the country, the point has to be borne in mind that the traditional institution remains the symbol of the history and cultural heritage of the Nigerian society. As a revered institution, it deserves to be preserved and protected against desecration at all times, just as the sanctity of life must be preserved.

As the president of the 130 Crowns Club, Oba Olusegun Akinbola, the Aladeokun of Alade-Idanre observed, it is sacrilegious in the Yoruba culture and tradition for anyone to bring the throne to ridicule and shame. “It is a taboo to attack a traditional ruler in this part of the world, while you move around freely without any punishment,”  he said. The import of his message is that the culprits must be brought to justice for enduring peace to reign in Igbokoda. We stand by that call.