Fake Obaship endorsement: Ikereku Chiefs are hiding behind a finger, says Ogunmakin community leaders

Heads of 52 villages which form Ogunmakin town in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have refuted claims by Ikereku chiefs that they (the Baales), held a meeting with them last week and endorsed one of the contenders for the throne of Olu of Ogunmakin as Oba-elect.

Penpushing reports that leaders of the communities made the clarification known to journalists emphasized that the claim by the Ikereku chiefs on the alleged meeting and its purported outcome was blatant lies.

The community heads, however, stressed that they remain a factor to reckon with in the nomination of the next traditional ruler of Ogunmakin town, assuring that they would not be intimidated on their struggle to fight against attempt by some elements to impose a non-indigene as next monarch of the ancient town after demise of Oba James Sodiya in 2023.

Penpushing further reports that the regent of the town Chief Oke Oladipupo led other community leaders which include Chief Jimoh Sanyaolu (Baba Loja of Ogunmakin), Chief Sotomi Ebenezer, (Baale of Ayegunle), Chief Aremu Bisiriyu (Baale Eruwon) and Chief Olutayo Pius to fault claim of the Ikereku Chiefs.

The regent said contrary to the  Ikereku Chiefs erroneous claim, explained that they visited a gathering where only one of them, Baale Seriki Sotayo, was present, adding that at no time was the issue of endorsing an Oba-elect raised at the meeting .

‘It was at one of our regular meetings in the area last Wednesday. Ogunmakin had only one Baale, Seriki Sotayo, in attendance. The other Baales there were from other towns, not Ogunmakin and they could not have endorsed an Oba-elect for us,” the Baales said.

Penpushing also reports that they added that the Ikereku Chiefs later left the meeting for Debonre, a neighboring community under Ajebo town to convene another meeting which had no Ogunmakin Baale in attendance, where the alleged endorsement was announced.

The leadership of the communities declared that, that was not a representation of what the good people of Ogunmakin want, insisting that Ikereku Chief should not impose a non-indigene on them as traditional ruler

Penpushing reports that it is recalled that that Ogunmakin leaders at a recent press conference held at the conference room of Penpushing Media located at Leme axis of Moshood Abiola way in Abeokuta alleged that Ikereku traditional council was attempting to impose a non-indigene, as royal father of the town.

The traditional chiefs identified the non-indigene as Ramoni Busari, popularly called Jawe, said to be from Ibadan in Oyo State, and cautioned against losing the community to Ibadan, as in the case of Bakatari town.

Penpushing further reports that in similar vein, Ikereku Council of Chiefs last Wednesday responded with a warning to the Baales in Ogunmakin  to end their resistance and put an end to the Obaship tussle, insisting that Busari Ayinde Olashile has been chosen as Olu of Ogunmakin.

The Ogunmakin Baales while standing by their protest at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, declared that there is no amount of threat that will force them to back out, with declaration to reject plot to impose Jawe on the community.

“We boldly stand by our decision to reject the plot by Ikereku Chiefs to impose a stranger as the next Olu of Ogunmakin. That is why we went to protest at the Governor’s Office’, the protesting villagers added.

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