Agodo community saga: I am authentic village head, 89- year old man says
The murder of controversial traditional ruler of Agodo in Ewekoro Local Government area of Ogun State, Ayinde Odetola took a new dimension on Saturday as 89- year old man, Ajani Sotade cried out that he is the authentic village head.
Penpushing reports that in an exclusive interview Sotade declared that the deceased (Odetola) was never a traditional ruler of the community, but a landgrabber, who was alleged as notorious in causing untold hardship in the community.
The village head emphasized that, there was no time the deceased was crowned as the monarch of the community, contrary to report that, he was coronated, stressing that he (Odetola) during his life time led thugs and landgrabbers to the community.
Penpushing further reports that, he said the community was never in the know of the said proclamation of the deceased as royal father, stressing that this can also be investigated within the community.
The 89 year old man queried that who installed Odetola as the monarch, where and when was he installed, pointing out that for a traditional ruler to be installed in any community or town, the subjects must actively participate and be in the know
‘I am the authentic village head (Baale) of Agodo. I am not aware of any other traditional ruler in the community. We are not aware of his purported installation, you can even asked any other residents or indigenes’, he emphasized
Penpushing also reports that, Sotade stated that, the said letter of appointment from the Ogun State Government being paraded to auenticate the deceased was not to the knowledge of the community, stressing that he has no palace in the community.
‘For example when I was installed as Baale(village head) all indigenes and residents were aware and fully participated. In his own case, who installed him, when and where did that take place’, he added
‘He (Odetola) is known to always lead thugs and landgrabbers to the community, and notorious for causing untold hardship on the community. I don’t know where his palace is located. You can even come to find out’, he declared
Penpushing reports that, Sotade confirmed that, following the incident, residents have fled the community, adding that he resolved to stay behind, as a good leader, adding that if he also run away, that will be discouraging to all those already fled.
‘I won’t go anywhere or run away. If I do that, it is not encouraging to those who already fled. I have places to run to like Lagos, Ibadan and Abeokuta, but it does not worth it. This is our community’, he emphasized
The village head called on the state government and security agencies to provide adequate security to the crisis-ridden community, and appealed to the fleeing residents to come back to jointly salvage the community
Penpushing further reports that, he disclosed that, the Amotekun corps visited the community on Friday on surveillance, with a pledge that, security will be provided, adding that he was adequately assured
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