Members of royal families and Osogbo residents on Sunday took to the streets to protest against the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh, accusing him of illegal land sales and abuse of power.
They carried placards, condemning the monarch’s decision to appoint non-indigenes as traditional community heads, particularly in the Agunbelewo community.
Wife of a former Ataoja, Olori Adesiyan Adenle, called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene, warning that the monarch’s actions could lead to communal clashes.
Prince Agboola Adejobi, Head of Oluawo Oba Compound, called for accountability to the people and the gods, as upheld by past Ataojas.
“The primary duty of Ataoja is to develop the domain, as well as protect and develop every aspect of the sociocultural well-being of the Osogbo land.”
“The cultural heritage of the Osogbo has not been as vibrant and elegant as it used to be, the traditional values and morals laid down by past Ataojas have been jettisoned by Olanipekun.”
The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, has through his personal secretary, Bello Wasiu, dismissed the protesters’ claims as baseless and unfounded, describing the allegations as ill-conceived.
