The crisis surrounding the removal of Onido of Ido in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo state, Chief Tajudeen Adelani Akinola Agura and installation of a Baale (a lesser chief) by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji took a new dimension on Wednesday as the deposed ruler has insisted he remains the authentic Onido of Ido.
While condemning the action of the Olubadan, the embattled Onido of Ido in a letter by his lawyer, Mr. Dare Adebayo described the appointment of Baale of Ido as illegal, null and void.
After the dethronement of Agura, Alhaji Muritala Babalola was appointed as the Baale of Ido by the Olubadan.
Adebayo argued that the title of Baale of Ido was alien to the declaration made under section 4(2) of the Chiefs Law 1952 of the Customary Law regulating the selection to the Onido of Ido chieftaincy.
In a three page protest letter addressed to the Governor of Oyo state, Senator Isiaq Ajimobi and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter, Chief Agura who hails from the Agura ruling family stated that the title of Onido of Ido was recognised under Part II of the chieftaincy Law of Oyo State, directly under the executive governor of the State.
He said: “the existence of the Declaration made under Section 4(2) of the Chiefs Law 1957 of the Customary Law regulating the selection to the Onido of Ido Chieftaincy states in Section 4(2)(6) their ruling house- there is one ruling house for Onido of Ido Chieftaincy title and the identity to the ruling house is Agura.”
Chief Agura further stated that Alhaji Babalola was not a member of Agura family as laid down by the Declaration under Section 4(2) of the Chiefs Law 1957, adding that Alhaji Babalola was never nominated at Agura family meeting “and not presented by the Agura family head to the kingmakers or sought for the consent of the Olubadan In Council to install or recognise the person of Alhaji Muritala Babalola”.
While insisting that he remained the Onido of Ido, Chief Agura said that the appointment of Baale of Ido as against the Onido of Ido would amount to total violation of the laid down law and that same was capable of causing civil unrest and bloodshed in the community.
Part of his demands in the protest letter to the governor included, the “setting aside of the appointment and selection of Alhaji Muritala Babalola as Baale Ido, a declaration that Alhaji Muritala is not a member of the Agura family, and a declaration that Baale of Ido is unknown to any existing laws of Oyo state and that the position of Baale of Ido should be declared null and void and of no effect.”
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