Residents of Jabata community in the Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo State are at loggerheads over a chieftaincy dispute.
In 2016, Wakili Adekunle, was appointed and installed as the Aare-Ago of Jabata by the head of the community, Chief Salami Ajani.
This followed the death of the former title holder.
But members of the ruling Ada Family described the decision as a travesty of the rules governing the Aare-Ago Jabata Chieftaincy Ruling House.
Since then, the serene community has been chaotic.
The disaffection followed a petition written to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, calling for his intervention in the matter to avert the looming violence in the community.
In the letter, dated January 18, last year, by head of the ruling family, Pa Salami Adewale, and other members, three sections in the family are said to have transformed into three ruling houses – Oyewo, Ikujeniya and Ogunsola.
The letter reads: “Lakanla House from Jabata had never been installed as the Aare Ago Jabata from the time of the late Alaafin Atiba till the time of Oba Adeyemi III. It is, therefore, painfully surprising that Wakili Adekunle from Lakanla House, who is neither patrilineally nor matrilineally related to Aare Ago Jabata Chieftaincy Family, was installed as Aare Ago Jabata.”
The family described the development as “daylight robbery”.
It urged the Alaafin to install any member of the authentic family as the 12th Aare Ago Jabata.
The Alaafin has set up a seven-man panel of enquiry to investigate circumstances that led to the choice of the incumbent Aare-Ago Jabata, whose family has neither been registered traditionally nor customarily confirmed to present a candidate for the chieftaincy title.
The panel, which has one week to sit, will also receive memoranda from interested parties and the public through its Secretary.
It is headed by retired Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and include members of the Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi).
Prince Totoola Adeyemi is its Secretary.
