I remain authentic traditional ruler of Olorunda, says Phillips-Ogunsola

The installed traditional ruler of Olorunda in Abeokuta North Local Government area of Ogun State Oba Olusegun Phillips-Ogunsola has insisted that he remains authentic royal father of the town.

Penpushing reports that Phillips-Ogunsola made the declaration in a statement to tackle earlier report by traditional ruler of Imala Oba Moses Olabode which Olorunda is part of his jurisdiction, emphasizing that Ogunsola is not bonafide indigene of Olorunda and was erroneously installed, and thereby calling on Governor Dapo Abiodun to reverse the illegal installation.

The embattled Ogunsola in the statement issued by his personal secretary Tajudeen Tinubu alleged that Omala of Imala was embarking on falsehood as he equally produced some documents which affirmed his installation as monarch of the town.

“The attention of HRH (Oba) Joshua Olusegun Phillips Ogunsola, The Orunda of Olorunda, Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State has been drawn to some media reports in some section of the Media, mainly online publications, wherein the Omala of Imala Land, Oba Moses Adegboyega Adelani Olabode, threw both caution and circumspection into the wind and called on the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON, to reverse the installation of Orunda of Olorunda”, the statementreads.

“First and foremost, it is pertinent for the media and general public to note that the appropriate and respectful pronouncement of the name and title of our coronet Oba is HRH (Oba) Joshua Olusegun Phillips-Ogunsola, (The Orunda of Olorunda). The expression or pronouncement of Kabiyesi Omala as “Mr” is disrespectful and libelous”, it added.

“Further to this, the assertion that His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON was misled and exercised “Executive Recklessness” was disrespectful to the office and person of our Dear Governor.  It will therefore be honourable for Omala of Imala to tender an unreserved apology to His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the entire Ogun State Executive Council members for the sake of posterity and respect for the Seat of Power”, it stated

Penpushing further reports that Phillips-Ogunsola said he strongly believes in the spirit of instructive political objective of the  country, which every well-meaning leader at all levels should uphold in accordance with unity, faith, peace and progress as contained in Section 15 (1), 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thus implying that leaders must move towards unity, operate in good faith, seek peace and strive towards progress rather than upholding parochial and primitive beliefs.

The monarch explained that in order to set the records straight due to the distortion of facts being brandished to several media houses by Omala of Imala and his cohorts, he made clarification that the statement credited to Omala that his(Ogunsola) parents are visitors in the town was figments of imagination.

“We will like to clarify as follows: That, the Omala’s statement that Olorunda is a Yewa Community as well as his allegation  that the father of Orunda of Olorunda “was first a visitor to Keesan Orile and was settled in Olorunda” were all figments of Omala’s wildest imagination. He capped it all by insinuating that “when people come, we accommodate them, give them lands and houses where they can live”.

“It is not in dispute that Olorunda was founded by Seriki Sowumilola Sokenu of Ijeun Abeokuta after the Owiwi War of 1833. It is on record historically that the Egbas engaged both Imala, Keesan and others in battle in the early 19th century and subdued them. Reference to “Iwe Itan Abeokuta” by A. k. Ajisafe. The Egbas of Ake, Oke Ona, Gbagura and Owu got to Oke Ogun by conquest and settlement, hence, the presence of over (100) one hundred numerous Egba Villlages in the vicinity of Olorunda Township”.

“Olorunda; formerly known as “Gambo Village” was named after the Head of Chief Sowunmilola Sokenu’s Camp, who is an Hausa man and was the Head of the Village till his death around 1887. Chief Atanda Bello from Sodeke, Ake Abeokuta became the next Baale and reigned till 1943. Next was Chief Michael Ajayi Olorunjube also from Sodeke, Ake Abeokuta, 1945 to 1994. Chief Zacheaus Oyeleye from Oke-Ago Owu, Owu Abeokuta reigned between 1997 to 2001. The fifth Baale in Olorunda was Chief Phillips Egbewole Ogunsola from Idere, Gbagura Abeokuta. He reigned between 2003 and 2011″, he wrote.

Penpushing also reports that he argued that Olorunda and its environs is largely populated by the Gbaguras and that accounts for why the Agura of Gbagura is the consenting authority for the appointment of Baales in Olorunda while the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland is the consenting authority for the appointment of Orunda of Olorunda.

“Olorunda was also the Headquarters of one of the 7 Districts into which Egba Division was subdivided in 1917 for the purpose of collection of Taxation i.e. North Eastern District of Egba Division with Agura of Gbagura as the District Head. The Keesan people and all other Villages within Olorunda Community paid taxes through Agura of Gbagura in the past and not through Omala of Imala. Reference to J.H. Blair’s report. … Eni ti o ni eru lo ni eru”.

Penpushing reports that he emphasised that the population census of May, 1962, 42 villages were listed under Imala Group of villages. Keesan, Tibo, Ilogun were clearly listed under Olorunda Group of Villages with 37 other Villages of Egba Origin,adding that the forebear of Oba Joshua Olusegun Phillips-Ogunsola (Orunda of Olorunda) in the person of Pa Ogunlabu (Aró-Agba) was a warrior in the Egba Army that fought Owiwi War, Ado War and others and that he founded “Aragba Village ” in Olorunda community around 1835.

“Neither Imala nor Keesan settled Chief Phillips Ogunsola (Orunda of Olorunda’s father) or the Egbas in Olorunda and its environs as stated by the Omala. It must be stated that the Egbas became landlords of Olorunda land through conquest and settlement which are valid in the adopted English Common Law and the Nigerian Legal System. Chief Phillips Egbewole Ogunsola (who died at age 91, ninety one years in 2011), his father Pa Ogundiran Ogunsola and grandfather Ogunsola Ogunlabu were all born, bred, died and buried in Olorunda Community. Thus, Oba Joshua Olusegun Phillips-Ogunsola is the fifth generation of his forebears, in Olorunda Community’, the statement declared.

“The Egbas in Olorunda and its environs neither pay tribute nor obeisance to both Omala of Imala and Baale of Keesan Orile.

The father of Orunda of Olorunda was installed the Balogun of Olorunda town in 1999 and later reigned as the Baale of Olorunda with effect from 2003 prior to the enthronement of Omala in 2005.  Pa Ogunsola died in 2011.  It is to be noted that the predecessors of the incumbent Omala did not complain or engage in war of attrition with Olorunda. Reference to communique by Imala Traditional Chiefs  dated 6th March, 2015″.

Penpushing further reports that Ogunsola explained that attempt by Baale Keesan Orile to claim land in Olorunda in suit number. AB/07/2015 failed and his case was dismissed on 10th January 2020 by Ogun State High Court and the judgment was not appealed till date,stressing that Omala  failed to heed the parliamentary resolution of Ogun State House of Assembly, reference number  28/OG/2021.

which mandated him to stop interference in the affairs of Olorunda township

“So, for him to have described our Honourable Members  of Ogun State Executive Council as being reckless in crowning Orunda of Olorunda and ignored the resolution of the Ogun State House of Assembly mandating him to stop interference in the affairs of Olorunda township as well as his acts of disdain and disrespect to a valid and subsisting Ogun State High Court judgment initiated by His Representative (Baale Keesan Orile) calls for concern. Omala is hereby reminded of the sayings of our elders that “Agbalagba ki i fun ifun adie ati pe “Inu buruku l”agba l’agba n ni, agba ki l’oro buruku lenu”.

“I hereby use this medium to inform Your Excellency, the Security Chiefs and the good people of Ogun State that Oba Moses Adegboyega Adelani Olabode, Omala of Imala is about to cause a breakdown of law and order in Olorunda Community, Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.  He is already grooming and importing thugs to Keesan Village to foment trouble’, he alleged.

“The ploy is being undertaken by him as part of move to actualise his recent threat that if a duly – installed Orunda of Olorunda, Oba Olusegun Phillips Ogunsola, was not removed by the State Government, there would be bloodshed in Olorunda.To actualise his threat, unknown faces suspected to be political thugs are already being seen and holding meetings in Keesan Village, waiting to wreck havoc’, Ogunsola added.

“We therefore call on Ogun State Government, Abeokuta North Local Government, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Security and other Security Agencies, to be alerted and be ready to prevent possible breakdown of law and order in Olorunda and its environs”, the statement emphasised.

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