We don’t want war – Orile Ilawo residents beg Ogun govt to approve Oba-elect 

Chiefs and residents of Orile Ilawo in the Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State have said that they do not want any crisis in their community over who becomes the next Olu of Orile Ilawo.

Report has it that, the Orile Ilawo stool became vacant in December 2021 when the first traditional ruler of the town, Oba Oladipo Aina, passed on.

On October 13, 2022, the six Warrant Chiefs approved by the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs voted for Chief Olusegun MacGregor to emerge as the Olu of Orile Ilawo-elect.

Since his emergence, some individuals have been making claims against his candidacy, alleging that the traditional Ifa Oracle did not choose him. They had also alleged that MacGregor is not from a royal family, asking the Ogun State Government not to confirm him as their Oba.

But chiefs, youths and women of Ilawo on Saturday took to the street to warn against steps that could trigger violence in the peaceful community.

They marched from Ilawo in Abeokuta to the palaces of the four sectional Obas in Egba – the Alake, the Osile, the Agura and the Olowu.

As they thronged the street, the Ilawo sons and daughters appealed to the four first-class monarchs to support the selection of MacGregor as the next Olu of Orile Ilawo.

Speaking, the Baale of Elegunmefa, Chief Zacheus Adeaga, said the people of Orile Ilawo have decided to choose MacGregor as their monarch, saying the decision is sacrosanct.

The village head said, “We want the Ogun State Government to endorse the election of MacGregor and crown him the next Olu of Orile Ilawo. That is who the people want, and that will ensure that the peace we enjoy in Ilawo is not truncated.

Adeaga appealed to all aggrieved persons to give peace a chance and work with the new Oba-elect so as to move the community forward.

In his words, the Olori Ode of Elegunmefa, Chief Idowu Tajudeen, expressed confidence that the reign of the Oba-elect would hasten the development of the entire Ilawo.

The chief hunter said the Professor of Clinical Pharmacology is ready to accommodate everybody, appealing to his opponents to sheath their swords.

A youth leader, Ridwan Shodiya, informed the Ogun State Government to take cognisance of the fact that those who lost to the Oba-elect would protest and make different claims, asking that they be ignored.

“Government should not listen to the lies of the few aggrieved persons. This is who the people want. The youths, the women and the elders are behind him. We don’t want war in Ilawo as a result of Obaship tussle. This is our Oba, and we want the government to endorse him for the peace and progress of the entire Ilawo towns and villages.

At the palace of the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, the chiefs confirmed that MacGregor is a bona fide son of Ilawo, assuring him of their support.