Olubadan Suspends Chief Wale Oladoja

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has suspended one of his chiefṣ, Mogaji Wale Oladoja.

Oladoja, who is the Mogaji of the Akinsola family, was suspended by the traditional ruler over the alleged forceful eviction of some landlords in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.

That scores of residents of Alaja Phase One, Alaja Phase Two, Isagunna, and Aponmode communities in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State staged a protest over an alleged forceful eviction from their property by Oladoja.

The residents, who are landlords and landladies in the communities, stormed the premises of the State House of Assembly to register their grievances on Thursday.

The protesters alleged that their homes had been invaded by Mogaji of the Akinsola family compound in Ibadan, Chief Wale Oladoja, in a bid to evict them.

The residents who claimed that they had been occupying the land for decades said they were surprised to hear that someone had gotten a court injunction to evict them from their properties.

The decision to suspend Oladoja was taken during an emergency meeting convened by the Olubadan on Friday.

The meeting had the Olubadan, members of his advisory council, representatives of Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Asimiyu Ariori, Oladoja, and representatives of the residents of the affected communities in attendance.

Oladoja in his argument said he made several attempts to resolve the matter before he decided to take action.

The Ashipa of Ibadanland, Biodun Kola-Daisi, who spoke on behalf of the Olubadan, noted that Oladoja did not follow the code of conduct usually handed down to both Mogajis and Baales when being appointed.

Kola-Daisi, on behalf of the Olubadan, then announced the suspension of Oladoja.

He said: “Several facts were established here today and they pointed to the fact that Mogaji Akinsola (Oladoja) did not follow the code of conduct usually handed down to both Mogajis and Baales when being appointed.

“In this instance, the case was already in the palace, but, did you inform the palace before the police was invited? Your action inconvenienced, [and] embarrassed the Olubadan stool and the Ibadanland. You crossed the line and the Council has decided that you be suspended as Mogaji, you are ordered to tender a public apology to the people inconvenienced.

“You defied Olubadan, took the law into your hands by going ahead to take such a drastic decision. This will serve as a deterrent to others who fail to appreciate and recognize the responsibility their position as either Baale or Mogaji entails. Your suspension will last for as long as it takes to resolve the problem you have created.”