Indigenes Call Ogun CP, Governor Dapo To Stop Installation Of Parallel Baale In Olowofela Village

The substantive Baale of Olowofela Village in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Chief Babatunde Bambi has made a passionate call to the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu to stop the planned installation of Babatunde Adeyinka as a parallel Baale of Olowofela Village inorder not to instigate a serious crisis and dispute which can turn to an uncontrollable level, leading to war with the use of dangerous weapons amongst the youth of the community.

Babatunde Bambi was installed and certified as Baale of Olowofela Village in 2011 by Oba of Ifo, Oba Samuel Oladipupo and since, the community has been enjoying peace.

Interestingly, the parallel Baale, Babatunde Adeyinka was part of those who appended his signature alongside other eligible family members in agreement to Babatunde Bambi installation as Baale 14 years ago and he was made the Secretary and Otun-Baale, a position he is still occupying till date.

However, the substantive Baale has reported to the Police and wrote a petition through his legal counsel to Oba Samuel Oladipupo of Ifo, Ogun State, notifying him of a plan to install one Babatunde Adeyinka as a parallel Baale of Olowofela Village in gross violation of Obas and Chief Laws of Ogun State 2021.

Meanwhile there is a subsisting directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogun State, issued in October 2022, that placed an embargo on installation of Baales, which reads in part: "The Ministry has observed with dismay the prevailing circumstances, including worrisome installation of multiple Baales within same location with its attendant social and security implications in the concerned community and neighbouring communities.

"It must be stressed that any instance of violation of this embargo, the Ministry will not shy away from its responsibility by applying the relevant provisions of the Obas and Chiefs' Law, Laws of Ogun State 2021."

The content of Chief Babatunde Bambi's petition to Oba Oladipupo with the title; 'Unlawful and Illegal Claim of One Babatunde Adeyinka as Parallel Baale of Olowofela Village in Ifo LGA, Demand for Sanction', reads in part: "Our brief revealed that our client was appointed the Baale of Olowofela Village on the 6th August, 2011 by your Royal Majesty and has presided over the affairs of Olowofela Community for the past 14 years and to the glory of God, the said community has witnessed peace and great development.

"Recently, one Babatunde Abiodun Adeyinka is wrongly laying claim to be parallel Baale of Olowofela Village in violation of Obas and Chieftaincy Laws of Ogun State 2021.

"The said Babatunde Abiodun Adeyinka has been causing disharmony and creating unnecessary tension within Olowofela Community. In the recent times, particularly during the exercise of crops enumeration being carried out by Dangote Cement Company within Olowofela Village in Ifo Local Government, which is the jurisdiction of your Majesty prescribed authority.

"The man has been fermenting trouble amongst the people of Olowofela Village and insisted that the community must report to a Royal Highness whose name is withheld in Itori town whose jurisdiction by virtue of his instrument of appointment limited to Ewekoro Local Government Area.

"Your Highness, information now has it that the Oba has fixed a date for the installation of another Baale for Olowofela Village to run parallel to our client (Chief Babatunde Bambi) would constitute an affront on the custom and tradition of people of Olowofela Village and a chieftaincy title being a sensitive matter, it can cause breakdown of law and order and breach of public peace.

"Therefore, it is on the basis of the above, that we made this representation on behalf of our client to your Royal Majesty and to investigate same if true, to bring it to the notice of Ogun State Traditional Council of Obas for appropriate sanction to me melted out to party in violation as provided by Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State."

According to Chief Babatunde Bambi, "Some few weeks back, I had a meeting in my residence with Babatunde Adeyinka, the Secretary to the Baale in Council and the holder of Otun Baale, being the second in Command to me and immediately after the meeting and he left, a group of unknown people came in to attack me, the timely alarm raised by some people round made them to flee, thinking I'm dead, leading me to have a feeling that Adeyinka may have orchestrated the attack.

In response to questions from Journalists, why Babatunde Adeyinka is going ahead with the plan to unlawfully installation as a parallel Baale? He responded that his installation was not unlawful because the present Baale was installed by the Oba of Ifo mistakenly when they thought the village was under Ifo LGA, until it was discovered that the village is under Ewekoro LGA.

He could however not prove to the Pressmen when the delineation was carried out to ascertain how and when Olowofela Village was moved from Ifo LGA and captured under Ewekoro LGA presently.