Tension is mounting among traditional chiefs in Ijesaland following the decision of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, to review the appointments of some chieftaincy title holders installed by his predecessor.

The late Owa Obokun, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, had conferred several titles on notable individuals. However, allegations of land grabbing and other forms of misconduct have since trailed some of those chiefs.

Responding to complaints from indigenes and stakeholders, Oba Haastrup vowed to sanitise the traditional institution and address all allegations of misconduct.

Shortly after his enthronement, the monarch inaugurated a seven-member committee to investigate the allegations. The Guardian had reported that the panel was also mandated to look into boundary disputes and land-grabbing cases involving some chiefs.

The committee, chaired by the Salotun of Ilesa, Chief Disu Oyedele, comprises Chief Fatoye Olaniyi (Likiti of Ikoti and secretary), High Chief Olalekan Folorunso (Loro of Ilesa), High Chief Saka Fapohunda (Ogboni of Ilesa), Oba Olaoaebikan (Loosare of Isare), Chief Lawrence Balogun, and Chief Oladayo Ogini (Risa of Ijamo).

While inaugurating the committee, Oba Haastrup urged members to be guided by sincerity and the fear of God in discharging their duties, stressing the need to restore discipline and justice across all sectors.

He also directed members of the public to forward their petitions to the committee through its secretary.

One of the most high-profile cases handled by the panel involved the former Oba Odo of Ilesa, Busuyi Gbadamosi, who was found guilty of stealing two electricity transformers.

Following the committee’s report, Oba Haastrup promptly suspended him and later replaced him with Professor Samuel Oni as the new Oba Odo of Ilesa.

Gbadamosi was subsequently arrested by the police after failing to recover the missing transformers, which had allegedly been carted away from the Araromi community in Ilesa.

Despite denying the allegations, he was stripped of his title for failing to account for the community assets.

In another case, the panel found a chief guilty of dispossessing a family of their land and ordered that the property be returned to its rightful owners.

Meanwhile, a public notice signed by the palace secretary, Samuel Komolafe, and sighted on Monday, revealed that Oba Haastrup has begun a review and regularisation process for chieftaincy titles conferred during the reign of Oba Aromolaran.

It was gathered that five chiefs are majorly affected in the review, particularly those whose appointments did not follow due process.

The notice reads: “This is to notify all chieftaincy title holders in Ijesaland, particularly those listed below who were conferred with titles during the reign of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, that the palace is in the process of regularising their titles. This will be done upon completion of all due processes.”

The affected titleholders include High Chief Ibitoye Adeniyi (Obaala of Ilesa), High Chief Saka Fapohunda (Ogboni of Ilesa), High Chief Omoniyi Ojo Ogunyemi (Lejoka), High Chief Gbenga Igbaroola (Arapate), and High Chief Busuyi Onigbogi (Lejofi).

“Concerned chiefs should please approach the palace for documentation and regularisation procedures,” the notice added. (The Guardian)