The Orunda of Olorunda, in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Olusegun Phillips-Ogunsola, has urged the Omala of Imala land, Oba Moses Olabode to tender an apology to governor Dapo Abiodun and the entire Ogun State Executive Council members for the sake of posterity and respect for the seat of power.
Oba Phillips-Ogunsola stated this on Tuesday, while reacting to the claim that his installation as a cornet Oba was an aberration.
DAILY POST reports that the Omala of Imala land, Oba Moses Olabode had appealed to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun to revoke the installation of Phillips-Ogunsola, in order to prevent chaos and bloodshed in the land.
The monarch, while describing the installation as an “executive recklessness”; of the Abiodun-led administration, explained that Oba Phillips-Ogunsola, was not a son of the land.
He also advised governor Dapo Abiodun to set up a committee to look into the issue, adding that he was misled and given the wrong information.
Reacting to this, Oba Phillips-Ogunsola in a statement signed by his personal assistant, Tajudeen Tinubu, and made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, described the monarch's statement as a deliberate falsehood and willful untruth.
He maintained that the assertion that the governor was misled and exercised “Executive Recklessness” was disrespectful, stressing the need for the Omala of Imala to tender an apology to the governor and the entire Ogun State Executive Council members.
Oba Phillips-Ogunsola explained that neither Imala nor Keesan settled his father, Chief Phillips Ogunsola or the Egbas in Olorunda and its environs as stated by the Omala.
Part of the statement reads, “The attention of HRH (Oba) Joshua Olusegun Phillips Ogunsola, The Orunda of Olorunda, Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State has been drawn to some media reports in some section of the Media, mainly online publications, wherein the Omala of Imala Land, Oba Moses Adegboyega Adelani Olabode, threw both caution and circumspection into the wind and called on the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON, to reverse the installation of Orunda of Olorunda.
“The assertion that His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON was misled and exercised “Executive Recklessness” was disrespectful to the office and person of our Dear Governor. It will therefore be honourable for Omala of Imala to tender an unreserved apology to His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the entire Ogun State Executive Council members for the sake of posterity and respect for the Seat of Power.
“In order to set the records straight due to the distortion of facts being brandished to several Media Houses by Omala of Imala and his cohorts, we will like to clarify as follows: That, the Omala's statement that Olorunda is a Yewa Community as well as his allegation that the father of Orunda of Olorunda “was first a visitor to Keesan Orile and was settled in Olorunda” were all figments of Omala’s wildest imagination.
“He capped it all by insinuating that when people come, we accommodate them, give them lands and houses where they can live.”
The statement further added, “It is not in dispute that Olorunda was founded by Seriki Sowumilola Sokenu of Ijeun Abeokuta after the Owiwi War of 1833. It is on record historically that the Egbas engaged both Imala, Keesan and others in battle in the early 19th century and subdued them. Reference to “IWE ITAN ABEOKUTA” By A. k. Ajisafe.
“The Egbas of Ake, Oke Ona, Gbagura and Owu got to Oke Ogun by conquest and settlement, hence, the presence of over (100) one hundred numerous Egba Villlages in the vicinity of Olorunda Township. Olorunda; formerly known as “GAMBO VILLAGE” was named after the Head of Chief Sowunmilola Sokenu's Camp, who is an Hausa man and was the Head of the Village till his death around 1887. Chief Atanda Bello from Sodeke, Ake Abeokuta became the next Baale and reigned till 1943. Next was Chief Michael Ajayi Olorunjube also from Sodeke, Ake Abeokuta, 1945 to 1994. Chief Zacheaus Oyeleye from Oke-Ago Owu, Owu Abeokuta reigned between 1997 to 2001. The fifth Baale in Olorunda was Chief Phillips Egbewole Ogunsola from Idere, Gbagura Abeokuta. He reigned between 2003 and 2011.
“Olorunda and its environs is largely populated by the Gbaguras and that accounts for why the Agura of Gbagura is the Consenting Authority for the appointment of Baales in Olorunda while the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland is the Consenting Authority for the appointment of Orunda of Olorunda.
“The forebear of Oba Joshua Olusegun Phillips-Ogunsola (Orunda of Olorunda) in the person of Pa Ogunlabu (Aró-Agba) was a warrior in the Egba Army that fought Owiwi War, Ado War and others. He founded “ARAGBA VILLAGE” in Olorunda Community around 1835.
“Neither Imala nor Keesan settled Chief Phillips Ogunsola (Orunda of Olorunda's father) or the Egbas in Olorunda and its environs as stated by the Omala. It must be stated that the Egbas became landlords of Olorunda land through conquest and settlement which are valid in the adopted English Common Law and the Nigerian Legal System. Chief Phillips Egbewole Ogunsola (who died at age 91, ninety one years in 2011), his father Pa Ogundiran Ogunsola and grandfather Ogunsola Ogunlabu were all born, bred, died and buried in Olorunda Community. Thus, Oba Joshua Olusegun Phillips-Ogunsola is the fifth generation of his forebears, in Olorunda Community.
“The Egbas in Olorunda and its environs neither pay tribute nor obeisance to both Omala of Imala and Baale of Keesan Orile. The father of Orunda of Olorunda was installed the Balogun of Olorunda town in 1999 and later reigned as the Baale of Olorunda with effect from 2003 prior to the enthronement of Omala in 2005.
“So, for him to have described our Honourable Members of Ogun State Executive Council as being reckless in crowning Orunda of Olorunda and ignored the Resolution of the Ogun State House of Assembly mandating him to stop interference in the affairs of Olorunda Township as well as his acts of disdain and disrespect to a valid and subsisting Ogun State High Court judgment initiated by His Representative (Baale Keesan Orile) calls for concern.”
Meanwhile, he alleged that the Omala of Imala land was bringing in thugs to Keesan Village to foment trouble, and called on the state government, the police and other sister security agencies to be at alert and ready to prevent possible breakdown of law and order in Olorunda and its environs.
