Oro Adherents in Ilua, Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State were said to have declared curfew on Saturday, September 5 in the community as replacement of late Oyo’s Oldest Monarch, Oba Samuel Afolabi Durodola2 becomes competitive and rivalry between Prince Ashiru Olalere and Prince (Pastor) Samuel Ojewole of the same ruling house(IKO), Oke Omo Oba Compound of the community.
According to a source who pleaded to speak under the condition of anonymity for the sake of retribution revealed that there was readiness by concerned stakeholders and appropriate quarters to install Prince Ashiru Olalere on Saturday, September 5 as new monarch for the town but members and loyalists of Prince Samuel Ojewole went against decision that the process of installation was not properly followed.
While asking on why the plans to install the new monarch failed, the source disclosed that Ashiru and Ojewole are princes
from the same Iko Ruling House, stressing that, if there are two or more princes showing interest in the vacant stool, the town’s king makers and the Local Government’s Career Officers must be properly carried along.
He added that when the king makers were carrying out their decisions, the Career Officers at the local government were not in attendance to take the minutes and records of their decisions and affirmation.
He explained that the alleged abnormal process got to the knowledge of Oyo State,
Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and the Ministry in its power withdrew the letter that authorized the installation and with immediate effect ordered the cancelation of the programme until necessary procedures are followed.
The source revealed that with a view to precluding lawlessness, violence and tension in the town and its environs, Oro Adherents declared partial curfew to restrict Women’s and others’ movement in the town.
He said that there were three ruling houses in the town, he itemised them as AGBO, ITA and IKO Ruling Houses. Stressing that AGBO fielded Oba Majaro who died in 1974 while ITA produced Late Oba Samuel Afolabi Durodola who died on 23rd May, 2020 and now the turn of IKO Ruling House to produce the next king for the town.
An anonymous loyalist of Prince Ashiru Olalere revealed that they remained law abiding as governments at both local and state levels have intervened in the process, stressing that they would never engage in any lawless activity nor engagement capable of undermining the peace and progress of the town and local government as a whole.
All efforts made to reach out to Prince Samuel Ojewole to know his own side of the happenings were fruitless as at the time of filing the report.
In another development, it is recalled that the late monarch, Oba Samuel Afolabi Durodola who was arguably adjudged to be the oldest king in Nigeria died in the early hours of Saturday, May 23rd 2020 as his death was a result of illness associated with old age.
His remains were buried on Thursday, August 20th 2020 by Oro Adherents at the extreme outskirts of the community where his predecessors were equally laid to rest.
His background revealed that Oba Samuel Afolabi Durodola 11 became the king of Ilua Community 38 years ago when he was said to have been 102 years of age.
