Idiagbon: Family head clears air on controversy

MOGAJI of the Idiagbon family of the Ilorin emirate, Ilorin South local government area of Kwara State, Alhaji Ahmed Baba-Olori Idiagbon, has confirmed that the House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Abdulwaheed Jimoh Idiagbon, is a bonafide son of the extended family.

It is recalled that there had been controversy over his eligibility to bear Idiagbon as a name by the immediate family of the late Chief of Staff Supreme headquarters, General Tunde Idiagbon.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Tuesday, the Mogaji of Idiagbon family, who is the traditional head of the family, said that the Idiagbon extended family comprised of 15 family groups, adding that the controversy was borne out of misconception.

He said that family of Mr Abdulwaheed Idiagbon is from Ojude family, while late Tunde Idiagbon is from Jiji family, adding that other families include Ile Tuntun, Kaa, Ile Iya Egbe, ile Alefa among others.

ALSO READ: Akinlade will succeed me, Amosun insists

Alhaji Ahmed, who spoke in company of other elders of the family, also said that father of the APC House of Representatives candidate, Jimoh, was born and bred and got married to Madam Fatimat in the Idiagbon family compound, adding that the candidate was also born and had his Quranic education in the family compound before travelling abroad.

“Mohammed Jimoh Idiagbon and I schooled together. We were friends. He hails from here and married his wife, Fatimat, here before he built his personal house at Gaa Akanbi area of Ilorin. All his children were born here. He was a driver at Phillip Morris company. So, Abdulwaheed Jimoh Idiagbon is a real member of Idiagbon family”, he said.

Also speaking, a member of a political youth group in the state, Zealous Kwara Youths, Mallam Moshood Rasaq, said that the misconception was capable of sparking up embers of discord within a family that has no reason to experience any.

Rasaq, who said that Mr Abdulwaheed Idiagbon had never claimed to be a son of the late military leader, added that members of the political youth group were in his campaign train before the primary election that produced him as APC House of Representatives candidate for Ilorin East and South federal constituency.

“You see, we understand that during the months preceding any general elections, it is normal for politicians to bring up sentimental issues in a bid to weaken and dent image of their opponents before the electorate”, he said.