Ilawo High Chiefs Dare Olu Of Orile-Ilawo, Say The Monarch Has No Power To Remove Them As Crisis In Ogun Community Deepens

High Chiefs in Ilawo community within Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State have dared the Olu Of Orile-Ilawo Elegun-mefa , Oba (Prof) Alexander Oluwaseun MacGregor, saying the monarch has no such power to remove them as traditional title holders 

Oba MacGregor had announced the removal of ten top chiefs including Oluwo of Ilawo, Samson Oluwole Dosunmu, Balogun of Ilawo, Abraham Adisa Soyoye , Jagunna of Ilawo, Fatai Shodimu , Aro of Ilawo, Femi Adebayo, Ekerin of Ilawo, Oluwole Ayorinde , Bada of Ilawo, Abiodun Sobunmi , Ogboye of Ilawo, Olubanji Olaogun, Oluwo-Ifa of Ilawo, Ifayemi Adisa as well as Mayegun of Ilawo, Ridwan Abdul and Akogun of Ilawo, Lawrence Ogunsanya for alleged selling of a landed property in Lerin-Ariku Alagbagba community in Odeda Local Government Area 

But four of the affected High Chiefs, Oluwo of Ilawo, Oluwole Dosunmu , Bada of Ilawo,Abiodun Sowunmi ,Balogun of  Ilawo, Abraham Soyoye and  Ekerin Ilawo, Oluwole Ayorinde addressing newsmen on Monday at Ilawo in Abeokuta, the State capital insisted that the monarch lacks such power to remove them as chiefs , except Osile of Oke-Ona Egbaland, Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso who is the prescribed authority vested with such power 

The Oluwo of Ilawo who expressed shock over the purported removal, recalled how Oba MacGregor was first installed as Olunla before his emergence as Olu Of Orile-Ilawo Elegun-mefa claimed that the affected High Chiefs had nothing to do with the selling of the landed property which according to them, belongs to a family and not the community 

Similarly another High Chief, Bada of Ilawo who is also the Akinrogun of Oke-Ona Egba, Abiodun Sowunmi, a son from Lerin-Ariku Alagbagba community where the disputed landed property is located, explained how the land was sold by members of the family which included himself to investors for developmental purposes and economic growth of the community 

Bada who is  contesting the Orile-Ilawo stool with Oba MaGregor in cour, accused the monarch of violating the court's rulings with impunity, citing the court's order which restrained the monarch from coming to Alagbagba  and its environs for three years ,but never complied with 

He accused the monarch of trespassing over the landed property that doesn't belong to a community within his jurisdiction saying Oba MacGregor territory is only limited to Ilawo-Orile

Also speaking, the Balogun of Ilawo and Bashorun of Oke-Ona Egba, Abraham Soyoye who played a major role in the emergence of Oba MacGregor as Olu of Ilawo,  maintained that the traditional ruler was exercising the power that doesn't belong him 

According to Bashorun, Oba MacGregor reign is only limited to Ilawo-Orile Elegun-mefa community and not Alagbagba community where the disputed landed property is located 

The Balogun who claimed that the Osile was aware of the disputed landed property, however cautioned Oba MacGregor against trespassing over the landed property belonging to a family in Alagbagba community which is outside his domain 

The  Oluwo, Balogun and Jagunna in-council during the news conference, appealed to the monarch not to plunge Ilawo to traditional war with Osile of Oke-Ona Egba who is prescribed authority vested with such power 

They maintained that  government had done the needful with the oba and chiefs law of Ogun state, which clearly stated  the jurisdictions of every oba with their prescribed authority areas with a warning to every oba not to cross from one Local government to other"

The Ile-ogboni Ilawo according to them,  include,  all the traditional chiefs under the prescribed authority of OSILE OKE -ONA EGBA and their chieftaincy certificate is a testament to this . 

"To put the record straight, The Oluwo ,Balogun and Jaguna -in- Council of Ilawo traditional council of chiefs got their certificate from OSILE OKE -ONA EGBA, duly signed by Oba ADEDAPO ADEWALE TEJUOSO long before oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor  was installed as OLU OF ORILE ILAWO in ODEDA LG ,thus,oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor does not have the locus standi to sack the traditional chiefs of Ilawo ABK NORTH LG ,under the prescribed authority of osile"

"From Ogun state chiefs law of 2023, it shown clearly that oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor, OLU  ORILE ILAWO ,whose instrument of office and Local government area is at ODEDA LG can not under the Ogun state chiefs law sack traditional chiefs installed and certificated by Oba ADEDAPO ADEWALE TEJUOSO whose prescribed authority covers Ile ogboni Ilawo and all the ogboni chiefs of Ilawo traditional council,oke oke ona Egba,Abk North LG", they  clarified 

They maintained that they remain High Chiefs in Ilawo a community which is one of the seven major towns in Oke-Ona Egbaland under the prescribed authority of Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso 

Other six towns according to them, include Ago-Oko, Ikija, Ilugun, Ikereku, Ago-Odo and Idomapa before the recent addition of three towns namely, Imala, Iberekodo and Idofin

The Olu of Ilawo, Oba Olusegun MacGregor was installed by the Ogun State Government under the recommendation of Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba( Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso and was crowned by Oluwo of Oke-Ona Egba,as Olu of Orile-Ilawo Elegun-mefa under the Chieftancy Law of Ogun State, 2023