The tensed atmosphere in Ayetoro created by the traditional leadership tussle between the supporters of the two claimants to the throne has continued to be a source of worry not only to the residents of the community but also the state government. The government had waded into the crisis in order to avoid the breach of peace in Ayetoro, unfortunately with no peace in sight.
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But as hard as the state government tried to douse the tension, another arose leading to fear, confusion and anxiety among residents. The hostilities among the supporters of the rival traditional rulers have crippled economic activities in the community.
The community has been in crisis for over three years since the emergence of Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo as the Ogeloyinbo and spiritual head of the Holy Apostolic Church, Ayetoro community. Traditionally, the community had always been under the sole authority of the Ogeloyinbo who also doubles as the spiritual head of the only community church in the enclave.
The genesis of the crisis in the town dates back to 2015 after the passage of the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Gad Asogbon. But a member of the community, Isaiah Akinluwa, explained that traditional rulers of the town are usually chosen and installed through the Holy Spirit.
He however said some people broke into the town’s church after the death of Asogbon and forcefully took all the paraphernalia of authority which were kept in the church and went ahead to install Ajijo as the new Oba, an action he described as a taboo, negating the customs and tradition of the community.
According to him, “since the time of our forefathers, no election has been conducted to choose any king; therefore, the whole community rejected the moves by this people.” He said the rejection of Ajijo led to the closure of the only church in the community.
But some kingmakers in the land maintained that the selection and enthronement of Ajijo followed the customs and tradition of the land. Speaking on the installation of Ajijo, the Secretary General of the town, Dele Kudehinbu, told the Nigerian Tribune that there was no iota of truth in the claim of Akinluwa.
To avoid possible breakdown of law and order in the coastal community, the state government intervened in September last year, calling all the factions together with a view to settling the crisis. The state government’s delegates led by the deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, appealed to them to sheathe their swords in order for peace to return.
Ajayi informed the leaders that the state government had no interest in any of the camps but would rather remain focused in its vision to bring dividends of good governance to the doorsteps of the people. He appealed to the indigenes to live together in love, peace and harmony for the development of the town.
However, Nigerian Tribune learnt the peace meeting failed to achieve its set goal as Ojagbohunmi was alleged to have embarked on a coronation exercise, thereby, violating the peace agreement reached with him and Oba Ajijo. But the Supreme Council of Elders of Ayetoro maintained that Ajijo was allegedly imposed on them and insisted that the stool of Ogeleyinbo was still vacant.
There was, however, a twist in the crisis last week, when Ojagbohunmi was said to be invited for a security meeting in Igbokoda but was whisked to Akure by security operatives and subsequently charged before a court for “alleged armed robbery, arson and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.”
The elders and people of the community, last Wednesday, raised the alarm over the sudden disappearance of Ojagbohunmi, saying that he left the community on Monday to attend a security meeting in Igbokoda, headquarters of the council, but was yet to return.
Speaking on behalf of the Supreme Council of Elders, the principal secretary of the community, Ademolu Atimishe, said Ojagbohunmi had been away without any traces of his whereabouts. Atimishe explained that Ojagbohunmi received a letter of invitation from the state government through the caretaker committee chairman of the council, Mr. Atikase Otito, for a security meeting.
The copy of the letter signed by Otito reads in part, “As part of his effort at enhancing continued peaceful co-existence among the people of our state, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has directed that the security committee, Ilaje Local Government meets all the parties involved in the crisis in Ayetoro community with a view to finding a lasting solution thereto. You are therefore invited to attend the meeting.”
Atimishe however, explained that the invitation came at a time when the entire community was celebrating its 72nd founder’s anniversary, which forbids the king from moving outside the community. “Although, the letter came pretty late at about 11.40 am and the meeting, as stated in the letter, was to be held at 1.00 pm, as our tradition dictates, during the week of our founders’ day anniversary, the king is not to step out of the community.
“However, four members of the Supreme Council of Elders of Aiyetoro were sent to represent the monarch but they were denied access to the venue of the meeting. As a result of this, the meeting, in agreement with the Chairman, Ilaje Local Government and Security Committee (the police, navy and army), was re-scheduled to Monday 14th January, 2019 by 12.00 noon.”
He pointed out that “being a peace-loving person, Oba Ojagbohunmi left Ayetoro to attend the rescheduled meeting at the naval officers’ base, Igbokoda. No meeting held as scheduled because the other party involved did not honour the invitation.”
Atimishe alleged that the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) in Igbokoda, Mr. Oladapo Williams, of being behind the disappearance of Ojagbohunmi. He, however, said the disappearance of Ojagbohunmi “is against the culture and tradition of our land, it is a taboo for the king to be missing for more than two days without an inkling of his whereabouts, especially this period when it is customarily forbidden for the monarch to leave the palace.
“In light of this, the Supreme Council of Elders and the over 40,000 residents of Aiyetoro Community demand the whereabouts of our monarch, Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, and Spiritual Head of The Holy Apostles’ Church.”
But the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) in Igbokoda, Mr. Oladapo Williams, denied the allegations levelled against him. He said he acted on the orders of the state commissioner of police.
He explained that Ojagbohunmi had earlier been invited to Igbokoda for a peace meeting but refused to come and since the meeting had been held without him, he was summoned to the state headquarters of the police command. He however said Ojagbohunmi was initially invited and not arrested.
The local council chairman, Atikase Otito, said the letter of invitation had been sent over a week but Ojagbohunmi chose to appear before the security agents in Igbokoda at his convenient time.
He said he knows nothing about his whereabouts since he refused to attend the security meeting called by the local government.
Also, the spokesperson of Ojagbohunmi, dispelled the allegations against him, insisting that his coronation was legal and in line with their tradition.
Akinluwa said that the “mandate had been given to Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi and we are committed to defend it anytime and anywhere. Our fundamental human rights must be protected. The people of Ayetoro community have chosen their king. The will of the people must prevail. We must let the general public know that no amount of intimidation, false accusations and prosecutions can change the mandate and the people’s will.”
He challenged the leaders to make public pictures and videos where Ajijo was installed as the traditional ruler, noting that no form of accusations would change the people’s mandate. He said the bone of contention was the throne and alleged that the elite were using government machinery to silence the will of the people.
But the kingmakers of Ayeyoro loyal to Ajijo also issued a press statement on Thursday, denying the disappearance of Ojagbohunmi and affirmed Ajijo, as the traditional ruler of the coastal community, saying any other person parading himself as the ruler was an impostor.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional council, the Baba Ijo and Member of the Ogeloyinbo-in-Council, Eremibo Eretan and Member Board of Trustees, Ogeloyinbo-in-Council, Henry Ojagbohunmi, said the claim of the disappearance of Ojagbohunmi was not only untrue but targeted to cause confusion in the peaceful community of Ayetoro.
They however said Ojagbohunmi was arrested by security agents in the state over certain criminal offences bordering on robbery, violence and destruction of properties.
Eretan explained that Ojagbohunmi, who had been parading himself as the parallel ruler of the community, was formally invited by the security agents and was subsequently arrested and transferred to Akure, the state capital before he was arraigned in court.
He said that “the claim of the disappearance of Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi is fake news. He was arrested on the 14th of January 2019 with the combined efforts of security agencies and was charged to court the following day.
“The Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro is Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo. He succeeded Oba Gad Olofin Asogbon who transited to glory on 13th February 2015. In line with established tradition, Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo was appointed and crowned the new Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro Community and the spiritual head of the Holy Apostles’ Church, Aiyetoro on 7th August 2015 by the Ogeloyinbo-in-Council, the sole authority or body responsible for such appointment.”
One of the stakeholders in the community who preferred anonymity however noted that there was power play in the crisis over the traditional stool of the town. He was pessimistic about the return of peace to Ayetoro, saying peace could only return to the town when the two aggrieved factions would make up their minds to allow the interest of the community to be foremost.
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