The kingship of Ilero town in Oke-Ogun part of Oyo State has been emeshed in legal tussles since 1987. Oba Emmanuel Eegunjobi has been in and out of the palace while pursuing his case in more than one court. He shares his experience in this interview by Saturday Tribune.
Can you briefly introduce yourself, Sir?
My name is Oba Dr. Deacon Emmanuel Afolabi Eegunjobi, Elero installed by the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, in the year 2001
KINDLY take us through a brief history of the Elero stool and how you came into the picture?
It was after the demise of the last Elero in 1983 that it became the turn of my own ruling house to become Elero. Labinjo was the first leader of Ilu-ero, as Ilero was then known. He was not an Elero because by then the stool had not been instituted. He was called Olori-Ero. He led our ancestors from Ila-Orangun where we originally came from. He came with his brothers and on getting to the hills of Ilero, they settled there. It was with the consent of Alaafin that he was installed and recognised as Olori-Ero. This is because, Orangun who is the founder of Ila-Orangun was a son of Oduduwa and an elder brother to Alaafin, automatically we are brothers and are now subjects of Alaafin.
We then have a succession of Elero from Ogunsola Abeere to Ikuola Lajoolo, to Lajolu to Mokolade Alao and to Anretiola Ogunbiyi. It was at this point that the name of the town was changed from Ilu-Ero to Ilero and the title of the leader/Oba changed to Elero. After that was Ige, then Labiyi the son of Ikuola and Majaro another son of Ikuola in succession. It then went back to another Ige, then Abiola Isola, after whom Tinuola Akanmu came, and then Tayo, then Oyerinde Alabi, Ayoola Alabi and finally Olayanju Akanbi who died in 1983 and it was the turn of our ruling house. I am the 16th Elero of Ilero. Alaafin was the consenting authority at that time when I acsended the throne.
How did you get to the throne?
My ruling family initially nominated a retired teacher to the throne and forwarded his name to the government. Unfortunately, his name was rejected. This is contained in government official gazette. The Local council hence wrote back to our family to present another candidate within the stipulated period of three months, 14 days for the vacant post. My ruling house then called a family meeting attended by all. It was there I was nominated even in absentia and my nomination was overwhelmingly carried. That family meeting was witnessed by the Local Government Council representatives. Thus my name was forwarded to the towns’ kingmakers who numbered nine. All of the nine kingmakers consented and signed for me and forwarded my name to the then Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi III who was the Consenting Authority. It will interest you to note that I was nominated on 3 August, 1987 but was not crowned until 2001.
Fourteen years? Why was that so? What was the reason for the delay?
What happened was that the Anretiola family of Ilero went to court claiming that their forefathers created the Elero stool, therefore, their family should be considered for accension. This was unheard of. It was then that the late Alaafin Adeyemi called me to his palace and assured me I was the next Elero because I had everything required of the stool and I had been properly nominated but he, being a great respecter of the law and due process; would not sign as the consenting authority until the case in court was decided. I agreed with him and the waiting game commenced. The case dragged till October 2001. The same day on 31 October, 2001 that the case was decided was the same day Alaafin signed my consent letter and the Local Council Authorities went ahead to install me as Elero of Ilero.
So, I was installed the 16th Elero of Ilero on 31 October, 2001 by the consent of the Alaafin who was the sole consenting authority in the matter.
We learnt you then had issues with the state government. What happened?
Exactly five days after my installation, a signal came from Ibadan to the effect that the AD government (of Alhaji Lam Adesina) would not recognize me as Elero. Why? Some local politicians went to Ibadan to tell the government that I was not sympathetic to the ruling party hence I should not be confirmed. The whole town was in deep anguish over this development. Eventually, the government didn’t grant me confirmation and in the same vein withdrew Alaafin as the consenting authority. They went ahead to install another Elero and some other obas across the state. Alaafin insisted that his status as consenting authority to all the towns affected was sacrosanct and went to court to challenge the action of the government. Then Alaafin called me again and asked me to endure, that the case would be decided in our favour. Pending the determination of the suit, however, Alaafin was paying me allowances to keep running my status despite the state’s shenanigans.
Eventually, the case was determined in favour of the Alaafin. All the earlier installed kings without the consent of the Alaafin were removed by the court judgement including the one for Ilero.
Eventually, Senator Rasheed Ladoja became Governor of Oyo state and effected the court judgement and re-installed me as Elero. All my outstanding salary and emoluments covering between October 1987 till then were promptly paid to me by the government.
An appeal against the judgement that re-installed me was instituted by the deposed. Unfortunately he won the appeal but the government couldn’t effect the judgement because I had also quickly approached the court for stay of execution of the judgement and also appealed. Thus, I continued as Elero until 2011 when government again changed hand from PDP to Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the APC.
On assumption of office of the then new administration of Senator Ajimobi, the matter against me was resuscitated by the same local politicians who claimed I didn’t vote for APC and thus should not be the Elero. But that was not correct. What they latched upon was the insinuation that I voted Senator Hosea Agboola (Alleluyah) from PDP in the National Assembly election. Alaafin was again approached to remove me but he vehemently refused to toe their path. He maintained I was the only one he could recognize as Elero.
Despite that, I was again removed against all known ethics and rule of law. Unfortunately, less than three years after, the man they installed answered the ultimate call.
But to our surprise, instead of waiting for the determination of my appeal pending till now, the government of Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi went ahead, in flagrant disobedience of the laid down proccess and culture, to install someone from another rulling house.
Earlier when that person’s name was sent to Alaafin for consent, Iku Baba Yeye flatly rejected again insisting I was still the properly installed king until our case, (Appeal case no. CA/1/261/08; and the pending Suit no. HSY/20/17 in the High Court) were determined.
The crown that I requested for with the backing of Alaafin, who said Elero should have a crown because we are sons of Oduduwa too, was eventually granted but given to the newly installed king. All of these took place despite a subsisting court injunction to the contrary and the pendency of a validly instituted court case.
Since then, we have at various times appealed to the incumbent government under the able leadership of the people’s governor, His Excellency, Oluseyi Makinde to kindly review the whole matter with a view to effect a redress for me.
We are persuaded that some elements are hell bent on misleading the governor in this matter. Governor Seyi Makinde on his own has demonstrated severally that he is a man committed to the rule of law and the sanctity of the courts.
We are using this medium to again appeal to our dear Governor that the stool of Elero is in my favour until justice is done and he can and should see to it that the matter is properly rested on the side of justice.
