Protest Rocks Ileogbo Over ‘Illegal’ Installation of Odofin by Monarch

Tension has gripped Ileogbo town in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State following a protest on Monday against what residents described as the unlawful installation of a new Odofin by the Olu of Ileogbo, Oba Abeeb Adetoyese Agbaje, Bamofin III.

The Odofin title, a respected chieftaincy position and one of the gazetted kingmaker roles in the community, became vacant following the death of the late Chief Amos Alabi of the Oladunwo Compound. Traditionally, the title is said to be the exclusive hereditary preserve of the Oladunwo family.

However, protesters alleged that the monarch violated long-standing customs by installing Mr. Faleye Samuel Omoniyi from the Olujogun Compound as the new Odofin. They argued that the Olujogun family already occupies another kingmaker title in the town—the Olukotun chieftaincy—which is rotated between them and another compound.

Speaking during the peaceful protest, a spokesperson for the aggrieved family, Alhaji Bashir Opayele, condemned the installation, describing it as a deliberate attempt to distort Ileogbo’s traditional history.

> “We are deeply disappointed by this action of the Olu of Ileogbo. The Odofin title belongs solely to Oladunwo Compound, and we will explore all lawful and civil means to reclaim our right,” Opayele said.

He added that the protest was not an attack on the monarchy but a defence of ancestral tradition and fairness.

Another protester, Mrs Falilat Agboluaje (née Kareem), said the action of the monarch was “provocative and alien to Ileogbo tradition,” warning that the people would not allow injustice to be normalised in the town.

> “This has never happened before in Ileogbo. No king has ever tampered with the Odofin title. What happened is a total breach of custom, and we will not accept it,” she said.

The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as “Ko sele ri” (This has never happened before) and “Respect tradition, respect justice”, vowed to continue their agitation until the chieftaincy is returned to the rightful family.