ABEOKUTA – The 10 sacked Egba chiefs by the Olu of Orile Ilawo, Oba Professor Alexander MacGregor Abeokuta, on Wednesday, has fired back, saying he lacks such powers.
The Chiefs declared that Oba MacGregor is not the prescribing authority over Ilawo Kingdom.
Recall that Oba MacGregor last week sacked the Oluwo of Ilawo, Chief Oluwole Dosunmu, the Balogun of Ilawo, Chief Abraham Soyoye, Jagunna of Ilawo, Fatai Sodimu and seven others, over their alleged involvement in the illegal sales of community lands, insubordination, flagrant disrespect to the royal stool and constituted authority.
He alleged that the Chiefs have sold not less than 1,600 acres of land without having the authority to do so.
But the chiefs denied the allegations, saying they were installed by the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso who is the prescribing authority over Ilawo Kingdom some years back even before the coronation of Oba MacGregor two years ago.
Speaking on behalf of the chiefs at a briefing held at Adedotun, Ilawo, Abeokuta, on Wednesday, the Aro of Ilawo, Chief Olufemi Adebayo alleged that Oba MacGregor was only being mischievous, insincere and probably power drunk with his announcement of deposition of 10 chiefs in the kingdom.
Chief Adebayo said “It is a lie that we sold land, it is the individuals who owned the land that sold them. Only when they sold their land, they gave us a percentage because we are the original owner.
“We have a gazette that anybody who sells land in any of our communities will give us 50%. The land he was talking about was sold about six or seven years ago during the reign of the king before him and part of what we were given then was used to provide 24 hour water supply to our community.
“He said he has deposed us but he does not have such prescribed authority because we got our certificates from Osile of Oke, Oba Dr Adedapo Tejuoso who is the consenting authority over this kingdom.
“He is going against the provisions of section 24 of the Ogun State Chief Laws of 2021 which forbids a king from exercising his powers beyond his domain and local government. Why come to Obafemi-Owode, Abeokuta North or Ewekoro, he’s just trying to cause problems. Osile is the prescribed authority over Ilawo Kingdom and that is the law”.
Chief Adebayo has however called on Gov. Dapo Abiodun as well as the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland to call Oba MacGregor to order before the conflict snowballs into a full blown crisis.
One of the chiefs and Balogun of Ilawo, Abraham Shoyoye said that he was surprised hearing the news of their sack by Oba MacGregor over the news.
Shoyoye described the royal father’s sacking of the 10 chiefs as an exercise in futility because Osile of Oke Ona is still the prescribed authority over Ilawo township adding that “If anything would change, the law must change. So his supposed removal of the chiefs is ultra-vires. He didn’t install us and can’t remove us. What you don’t give, you can’t take”.
Speaking earlier, the Oluwo of Ilawo, Chief Oluwole Dosunmu also corroborated the stand of other sacked chiefs in the kingdom explaining that Oba MacGregor’s proclamation lacked substance and should be ignored.
Chief Dosunmu said that there was never a time the chiefs sold any land revealing that it has always been the land owners who sold their land after which they will give part of the proceeds to the community.
The briefing had in attendance the Oluwo of Ilawo, Oluwole Dosumu, Chief Olufemi Adebayo, the Aro of Ilawo, Chief Adisa Ifayemi – Oluwo Ifa Ilawo, Chief Akeem Sobayo – Asalu of Ilawo, Chief Kashimawo Tiamiyu – Lubere of Ilawo, Chief Mukaila Aramila – Baajito of Ilawo, Chief Rilwan Abudu – Mayegun of Ilawo amongst others.
