Odo-Owa/Iloffa Clash: Odo-Owa violated ancestral norms, oath to Igbede – Witness

By Kayode Adeoti

Fresh revelation emerged yesterday when the Osolo of Igbede, Oba Johnson Jide Aina testified that the Oloota of Odo-Owa, Oba Joseph Adimula is the author of the crisis that erupted on June 29, 2017 in Oke-Ero local government area of Kwara State.

Osolo made the disclosure before the Judiciary Commission of Enquiry set up by the state government to look into the remote and immediate cause of the crisis between the two neighbouring communities of Odo-Owa and Iloffa.

He said, the present Oloota violated the traditional norms and oath of allegiance taken by his forefathers Igbede community, many years ago with.

He added that Oloota was supposed to come to slaughter a ram at Igbede to perform certain rituals upon his coronation as the monarch of Odo-Owa. Osolo attributed the consequence of Oloota’s disobedience to the violence that engulfed the community recently.

Hear him, “It is an obligation for Odo-Owa to come to Igbede and perform certain rites in fulfilment of the oath of allegiance his forefathers took from Osu Ilesha in Osun State. That has been the tradition until the era of the current Oloota, who jumped the gun.

“The late Oloota, Michael Adegoke Adimula performed the rite at Igbede, if Oloota is not installed in accordance with this rite, it is an abomination. Disaster, insecurity and violence are the remote outcome of not performing the rites.

“The rite is to be performed with ram in Igbede but this sitting Oloota has failed in that regard.”

During the cross examination by the opposing counsels, Oba Aina stated that he was supposed to have been graded as antecedent of history.

While responding to the allegation that government has forbidden him from parading himself as the Osolo, he said the traditional council consisting of seven LGs has acceded to his stool and re-affirmed by the local government authority.

He further argued that Igbede had been in existence long before Odo-Owa and should be accorded such respect.

Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing on Tuesday, one Ogundele Michael Oladipo testified that the Aloffa of Iloffa, Oba Samuel Dada, Odofin of Iloffa, Moses Oni and Yusuf Olaniyi attacked him in his house during the communal clash

Oladipo, who hails from Ikotun in Odo-Owa disclosed that the trio destroyed his cement worth N300,000 and building tiles valued at N45,000.

According to him, Aloffa was carrying sculpture tied with red cloth; Olaniyi was holding 7-round gun while Odofin was with a bag containing pellets.

For fear of been hit by stray bullet, Oladipo said he laid on the floor of his house.

Also, while testifying before the panel, Obayomi Olusola and David Jolayemi, both confirmed that Iloffa people burnt their houses.

They also noted that they confirmed Iloffa community been the perpetrators of the dastard act through the local dialect they speak.

Aransiola Sunday, a witness from Odo-Owa told the Panel that his house was partly burnt while another part was pierced with gun bullets.

“I was not inside my house but I was somewhere watching the Iloffa youths as they sprang up from the mountain beside my house. They set it ablazed even my motorcycle. They shot at my chicken and they cart away some of them” he said.

In the testimony of Samuel Femi, he said he challenged one Idowu Abiodun, who led a group of seven male youths to burn his house on 30th June.

Among those that also testified from Odo-Owa before the Commission of enquiry are Ogundele Gabriel Kayode, Chief Olaniyi Bisi and others.

The chairman of the commission however adjourned the matter till today for further hearing.