Crisis, on Tuesday erupted in Igbaye, a community in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the State of Osun, following the declaration of State High Court in Ikirun, that the current Onigbaye of Igbaye, Oba Joseph Moronfoye Okunlola-Oni, Ejiolu IV, is entitled to the throne, against the wish of some indigenes of the town.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the court’s judgment, delivered by Justice Jide Falola, did not go down well with some of the people of Igbaye, who were challenging the eligibility of Oba Okunlola-Oni to the throne.
In protest, the aggrieved people installed Alhaji Ganiyu Oyenike, who is from the Oyenike ruling house, as a new Onigbaye of Igbaye.
After his installation, Oyenike reportedly led hundreds of people to the abandoned Onigbaye palace, which had been deserted since the demise of the late Onigbaye of Igbaye, Oba Elisha Oduoye Oyeyanju, Soledolu III.
Findings by the medium revealed that Oba Okunlola-Oni had not entered the Onigbaye palace since he was installed in 2007.
According to sources in the town, Oyenike and his supporters danced round the town, appealing to the people to remain calm and be law-abiding.
The sources told OSUN DEFENDER that one of the hoodlums reportedly supporting Oba Okunlola-Oni shot into the air to disperse Oyenike’s supporters, but the people continued their celebration.
The medium gathered that Oba Okunlola-Oni, who was in court physically with his supporters, was advised not to go to the Igbaye, to avert clash with the aggrieved people, it was gathered.
The sources stated that around 12am on Wednesday, some hoodlums went round the town, shooting sporadically, vandalising properties and breaking bulbs.
It was learnt that about 10 people were attacked by the hoodlums while they also reportedly vandalised the Central Mosque of the community. A car belonging to a pastor of was also burnt, according to the sources.
When contacted, Oyenike said he agreed to be installed as the new Onigbaye of Igbaye to allow peace to reign and appease to the aggrieved indigenes of the community.
Oyenike said Oba Okunlola-Oni was not eligible to the throne because he did not hail from any of the three ruling houses in the town.
He also accused the traditional ruler of sponsoring thugs to attack the people of the town and destroy properties on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning.
Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview, Oba Okunlola-Oni accused Oyenike and his supporters of causing mayhem in the community, saying that he delayed his return to Igbaye to avert total breakdown of law and order.
Oba Okunlola-Oni said he has no hand in the destruction of lives and properties in his town.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident, saying that police have restored peace in the community.
As at the time of filing this report, mobile policemen and armed operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were in the town to keep peace.
The security operatives have also mounted roadblocks, just as they were seen patrolling every nook and cranny of the community.
Human and vehicular movements were also restricted in the town.