Kwara: Oro community leaders refute Otun Oro’s claims

Community leaders and stakeholders in the Oro Kingdom in the Irepodun local government area of Kwara state have refuted claims by the Otun Oro community that no other town should bear the name “Oro”.

The people, in separate interviews with the Tribune, described the assertions as unfounded.

It is recalled that the Baale of Otun Oro, Chief Raphael Olateju Afolabi, and the President of the Otun Oro Community Association, Professor James Bababode Bojuwoye through their National Publicity Secretary, Adebayo Olodan, had cautioned the Oloro of Oro Kingdom, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye, against using titles such as “Oloro of Oro”, “Oloro of Oro Land”, or “Oloro of Oro Kingdom”.

They further claimed that none of the eight communities within the Oro district was entitled to such titles.

In response, Chief Ologba of Oro Kingdom, Oloye Opeyemi Awoyale, dismissed the claims as baseless.

“There is no element of truth in what they are saying. Their community is not among the ruling communities in Oro Kingdom. They are simply stirring up unnecessary issues within the larger Oro community”, he said.

Another notable community leader in the Oro community, Elder Kayode Adeyipo, described Otun Oro’s assertions as “self-hallucination”.

He emphasized that Otun Oro is only one of many villages that make up the larger Oro Kingdom. “Can a part be greater than the whole?” Adeyipo asked rhetorically.

“They are rebels and even their Baale must be installed by the Oloro. The last Baale of Otun Oro was self-installed and is not recognized by the Irepodun local government authority. The Oloro-producing towns are Iddo Oro, Okerimi Oro, Agbeola Oro, Afin Oro, and Okeola Oro. Otun Oro has no entitlement to the throne”.

The Chief Imam of Oro Community, Mallam Sanusi Taofeek, also weighed in, affirming the legitimacy of the current Oloro, based on tradition and history.

He said: “The tradition of Oro states that any individual from the Oloro royal family, duly installed on the stool, is to be addressed as Oloro”.

A youth leader, Adefila John Olalekan, also condemned the claims, calling them unfounded. “Eleven communities bear the name Oro. How can one community insist that no others should use it? The state government installed the Oloro in accordance with the law”, he said.

Olalekan also explained the historical basis of the Oloro title, saying that it has existed for over 300 years.

“The role is traditionally rotated among specific ruling communities, including Afin Oro, Okerimi Oro, Oke Ola Oro, Agbeola Oro and Iddo Oro”.

He reiterated that Otun Oro, one of the 11 communities in the kingdom, has no historical claim to the Oloro stool.

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