The planned presentation of the staff of office to the newly appointed Olola of Ola, Oba Johnson Ajiboye by Governor Ademola Adeleke was disrupted over the weekend as police officers were deployed to the community to uphold the court’s decision to remove the monarch.
The appointment of Ajiboye as Olola of Ola had been met with opposition due to ongoing court proceedings, which had cast a shadow over his legitimacy as the king.
Despite being installed as the king by the Osun government, Ajiboye’s authority was challenged as the head of kingmakers, Femi Fasanya, refused to participate in the ceremony.
The Ejigbo High Court, under the jurisdiction of Justice Lawrence Arojo, ultimately ruled in favor of the opposing family house, Olugbode, represented by David Salako and Kola Sangoniran, leading to the dethronement of Ajiboye.
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Following a petition submitted to the Osun police command on April 10th, 2024, warning of potential unrest during the scheduled presentation of the staff of office on the 12th and 13th of April, security measures were heightened.
The police presence at the venue where the ceremony was supposed to take place ensured that the court’s decision to declare the stool vacant was respected, maintaining the status quo until the legal dispute was resolved.
In response to the situation, the Olugbode family, through their spokesperson Kolawole Sangoniran, expressed gratitude towards the state government for abstaining from the staff of office ceremony and acknowledged the deposed monarch’s compliance in preserving the existing order.
The events surrounding the appointment and removal of the Olola of Ola underscored the complexities and legal intricacies involved in traditional leadership transitions within the community.
