There is an ongoing crisis in
Alade Idanre kingdom in Ondo state over the succession of Olusegun Akinbola,
the traditional ruler of the community who died on October 16.
Two days after the demise of the
monarch, Temilowa Akinbola, his first daughter, was crowned the regent.
But five days after her
emergence, hoodlums invaded the palace and attacked her alongside her aged
mother.
In a petition to the state commissioner of police, she narrated how she was assaulted and abducted from her father’s palace allegedly on the orders of Frederick Aroloye, paramount ruler of Idanre.
“Our client reliably informed us that sometime
on Friday 23rd October 2020, some thugs numbering about 20 forcibly entered the
palace of Aladeokun of Alade and caused havoc therein. The thugs who came in
motorcycles (popularly known as okada) were armed with guns, cutlasses, logs of
wood and other dangerous weapons. We were reliably informed that the thugs shot
sporadically into the air, singing war songs and demanding for the whereabouts
of our client, the Regent of Alade,” she said in the petition her lawyer signed
on her behalf.
“It is part of our brief that the
hoodlums maliciously damaged all vehicles packed within the premises of the
palace. Windshield and glass windows of vehicles belonging to Olori Abiola
Akinbola and her visitor and chiefs were smashed by the thugs.”
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| The regent after the attack |
She said after gaining entry into
the living areas and bedrooms in the palace, the attackers looted and carted
away telephone handsets, assorted wines, food items, clothing materials,
jewellery, laptops, ATM cards and money.
The regent said she was
forcefully taken to the palace of Aroloye where she was assaulted in his
presence.
“We were further informed that
our client was severely beaten, assaulted and her dignity was abused. The
suspects dragged Her Majesty out of the toilet where she hid and forced her on
a motorcycle. Also assaulted and abused were all persons, inhabitants, family
members and visitors who were at the palace of Aladeokun on that day. The
suspects roughly abducted our client and took her and Olori Abiola to Owa of
Idanre’s palace. At the palace, it became apparent that the thugs were carrying
out the instructions given to them by Owa of Idanre,” the petition read.
“Owa of Idanre sat on the throne
and watched as the suspects again beat up the regent and the Olori. It was at
the palace that the Owa ordered that the Regent vacate the throne so that one
High Chief Lisa of Alade be installed. Owa of Idanre also ordered that Alade
regional market be opened contrary to custom and tradition of closing same upon
the demise of Aladeokun of Alade.”
But in a statement from the media
office of the Owa of Idanre, the monarch denied being responsible for the attack.
He said he invited the regent to
a meeting to discuss the controversy surrounding her father’s burial.
However, Aroloye faulted
Akinbola’s emergence, saying it is against the tradition of Idanre people to
have a female regent after the transition of a king.
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| One of the vehicles destroyed during the attack |
“The gathering at Owa’s palace on
23rd October 2020 was meant to resolve the issue of the purported intention of
some people to come and perform parts of the burial rites of the departed
traditional ruler of Alade Idanre inside the Alade Regional Market which was
founded by Owa on 1861 and such thing was seen as an aberration, hence the need
for the parley. And the gathering ended peacefully after exhaustive
deliberations from both sides,” the statement read.
“The people were also educated
that only at the transition of an Owa could the Alade Regional Market be closed
or temporarily relocated and no other traditional ruler in Idanreland was given
such entitlement.
“So Owa could not be a party to any scheme
that will make things tough or hard for his immediate family or the people of
Alade Idanre who he left behind.
“The issue of ‘regency’ at Alade
Idanre was equally raised and Princess Temiloluwa Akinbola confessed that she
didn’t know that it is against tradition to have a female regent… it is the
“Lisa” who is next in rank to the Oba that takes the position of regent when an
Oba transits.”
The comments of Tee-Leo Ikoro,
police public relations officer in Ondo, as he neither answered calls nor
responded to a text message sent.
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