The Odegbaro family of Olode Village in Ibadan, has called on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Mohood Olalekan Ishola Balogun-Aliiwo (Ali Okunmade II), to as a matter of urgency intervene in the rancour surrounding the right occupant to fill the vacant stool of Baale of Olode Village, a ceremony fixed for next Monday.
In a statement signed by Kabiru Odekeye and Sefiu Ogundeji, chairman and secretary of the family and Ibrahim Odegbaro, the Baale-elect and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday, the family noted that the forebears of Odegbaro family are the owners of Olode Village.
The family lamented that due process, transparency, fairness and justice were not applied by the personnel of Oluyole Local Government Area and the Local Government Traditional Council rather they deployed impunity, injustice, threats and intimidation in their bid to force a son of an ‘Are’, (stranger) in the person of Akeem Oloruntoyin, on Olode Village as the new Baale.
While noting that various court rulings and judgements dated 1919, 1994 and recently 2021, all confirmed that the forebears of Odegbaro family are the owners of Olode Village, they argued that their son, Ibrahim Odegbaro was never involved in any land grabbing case as being peddled, saying that Akeem Olohuntoyin’s father, Busari, who wants to reap where he did not sow, is an ‘Are’ (stranger) who was allowed to carry out farming activities in the community with payment of royalty to Odegbaro family.
They, however, appealed to the Olubadan to intervene and ensure justice is done to the matter.
The statement read in part: “It is the custom and tradition that the family of the Baale-elect, who seeks to be the substantive Baale should present its letter of intent to the prescribed authority of Ibadanland, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator, Dr Mohood Olalekan Ishola Balogun-Aliiwo (Alli Okunmade II).
“We, however, find it discouraging, disheartening and saddening that our family’s letter seeking your approval for the choice of our son, IBRAHIM ODEGBARO, as the new Baale of Olode Village, which was presented for onward transmission to your Majesty, was rejected and thrown back at us disdainfully without any reason by the personnel of the Oluyole Local Government and the Local Government Traditional Council.
“We hereby attach photocopies of the court rulings and judgements marked Exhibits1,2,3 and dated 6/12/1919, 30/9/1994, 17/2/2021 respectively to buttress our position.
“It is also important to inform your Majesty that our son, IBRAHIM ODEGBARO was never involved in any land grabbing case as being bandied about by one Akim Olohuntoyin whose father, Busari, is an Are (stranger) on our ancestral land and was only allowed to carry out farming activities with payment of royalty to our family.
“It is the expectation of Ibadan people and Nigerians as a whole that as an erudite scholar and accomplished technocrat, your ascension to the throne of Olubadan will usher in unprecedented peace and progress in Ibadanland premised on fairness, justice, accountability and transparency, which is a clear departure from the culture of injustice, impunity, intimidation and corrupt tendencies as exemplified by those who are bent on living in the past and want to reap where they did not sow.
“We therefore call for your urgent intervention before things get out of hand”, the statement added.
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