Osun indegenes protest plan to remove Ataoja, government alleges mischief

Village heads and indigenes of Osogbo on Thursday staged a peaceful protest, asking the state government not to depose Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji.

The protest took off from the residence of the leader of Osogbo Village Heads, Chief Jimoh Buraimo, and moved to Odi-Olowo before moving in a long convoy of vehicles to Abere Government Secretariat, in Osun State.

Armed with placards with inscriptions such as; ‘Don’t cause confusion and violence in Osogbo’, ‘Stop attempt to depose Oba Jimoh Abidemi Olanipekun,’ amongst others, the protesters said the state government was after the royal father for undisclosed reasons.

Addressing journalists, Chief Buraimo, alleged of clandestine moves by the government to depose Oba Olanipekun without any just cause.

He said, “The attempt by the Osun State Government to take this unholy approach is against the backdrop of the existing case instituted by the members of Oluwin Ajibilu/Oyekomi Family of Oyekomi’s Compound, Osogbo in Suit No: HOS/115/2022: PRINCE SAKARIYAU ALABI ADEBIYI & 2 ORS VS HRM OBA JIMOH OLANIPEKUN (ATAOJA OF OSOGBO). The 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants represent the Osun State Government and the case is still pending at the High Court of Justice, Osogbo.

“The current attempt being made by the state government is capable of disrupting the existing peace in Osogbo and Osun State in general. It is equally an attempt to usurp the power and function of the judiciary to adjudicate on the matter currently pending in the court of law and it is highly prejudicial to and contemptuous of the process of the honourable court of Osun State.

“It is to be noted that we cannot accept this unlawful attempt which will portray Osun State Government as highly insensitive and blind to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Osun State. The institution of Ataoja of Osogbo land is the custodian of our traditional heritage. An attempt to illegally remove the occupant of the exalted office is an affront on our traditional inheritance which shall be resisted legally.”

He said Osogbo indigenes will not allow moves to remove the monarch, adding that they were ready to resist the conspiracy to cause disunity, chaos, violence and disharmony in the state.

Speaking in another interview, the Ajagunna of Osogbo, Chief Gabriel Oparanti, who is the head of kingmakers in the town, warned against any act that could aggravate tension and cause chaos.

But reacting to the alleged plans by government to depose Ataoja, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, warned against peddling of falsehood capable of inciting the people against the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

Omipidan, in a statement had referred to a letter written by Asipa of Osogbo, Chief Ajadi Badmus, where the community leader urged the governor to stay action the plans to depose Ataoja.

He described allegations that the governor planned to remove Ataoja as an attempt to pitch the people against the governor and his government by agents of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The statement further read in parts, “The author of the letter, Chief Ajadi Badmus, has unfettered access to Mr. Governor. If indeed he has the best of intentions, he ought to have found out from the governor before making his spurious claims.

“Recall that Chief Badmus had also authored a similar letter shortly before the July 16 governorship election wherein he claimed that the government had relocated the Airforce Base from Osogbo to Iragbiji. The wicked lie became the major weapon the PDP agents deployed to canvass for votes in Osogbo and its environs.

“Ordinarily, the Ataoja is directly under the supervision of the Osogbo Local Government. Therefore, the governor has no business per se with his office. Besides, the governor has no issues with Ataoja.”

He however urged the people to disregard the rumour saying it did not fit Oyetola’s gentleman personality.