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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Following the razing of the palace of Aree of Iree, Oba Ponle Ademola, on Thursday, by hoodlums, five ruling houses have said that the attack was politically sponsored to depict crisis in the town.
Princes from five out of the six ruling houses stated that the crisis was sponsored after an Executive Order issued by the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, to three monarchs in the state to vacate their palaces following reports of crisis.
Speaking on behalf of the five ruling houses, the princes, Olatunji Gbemiga (Oyekun ruling house); Adeleke Wasiu (Larooye ruling house); Jimoh Lawal (Iyoonla ruling house); Oyerinde Fatai (Ojo Ayagaga ruling house); and Prince Olaniyi Sulaiman (Olubokun ruling house), explained that since Oba Oluponle Ademola was installed as Aree, the community has been peaceful until Thursday when some political hoodlums unleashed mayhem on some residents and set the palace ablaze.
The princes called on security agencies to investigate the incident, with a view to bring the culprits to justice, stressing that the arrest of Aogun of Iree, Chief Soliyu Atoyebi, has nothing to do with Aree’s throne.
“As you all aware, on November 7, 2022, a new king, Oba Raphael Oluponle Ademola, was installed in Iree as the Aree of Iree, following all necessary procedures and traditional rites as laid down by the Chieftaincy Law of Osun State.
“For close to a month now, Iree has been peaceful and orderly since Oba Ademola resumed to the palace, hosting dignitaries from within and outside the town.
“Sadly, yesterday, December 1, 2022, some suspected hoodlums stormed the road leading to the palace and also attacked the palace, burning some items, under the guise that the Aogun of Iree, Chief Saliu Atoyebi, was arrested for an unknown reason and we strongly believe it has nothing to do with Aree’s throne.
“As if that was not enough, the hoodlums entered houses of individuals in Iree, attacking them, destroying their properties all in their efforts to create an impression that there is crisis in the town over Obaship.
“Those that led the attack were popular thugs. Their leader is called Gbedu, he is always involved in disrupting the peace of the town; and his cohorts include Oluomo, Taye Kerosene, Agunbiade and Saje among others. We have reported those that spearheaded the attack to the police,” they said.
