Family Accuses Osun Monarch Of Selling Inheritance
Members of the Petelua family of Ilesa have accused the Olowasere of Owasere in Atakumosa East Local Government of Osun State, Oba Oluwadare Ayoola, of selling their family inheritance.
The family members also said they have removed the head of the family, Chief Jimoh Awe, as the Petelua of Ilesa, alleging him of conniving with the Olowasere to take over their family inheritance.
The chairman of Petelua family, Elder Agboola Opesan, while speaking with newsmen at a press conference in Ilesa on Saturday, alleged that Oba Oluwadare, who was installed by the family, has sold part of their farmland and converted some to his own.
He alleged that members of the family who questioned Oba Oluwadare and Chief Awe were arrested and locked up in police custody.
Opesan also said the royalty paid by tenants on the family land situated at Owasere has been hijacked by the Olowasere in support of Chief Awe.
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He noted that despite a court judgement that the royalty should be paid to the family as the rightful owner of the land, the monarch persisted with collecting the royalty and threatened those who questioned his decision.
Opesan urged the state government and Owa Obokun of Ilesa to wade in on the issue before it degenerated into a breakdown of law and order.
He said, “The position of the head of the family and a king in a community is to hold the property and protect the life of their kinsmen and community members and certainly not convert same to personal use or self-enrichment.
“Chief Jimoh Awe and Oba Oluwadare Ayoola have criminally conspired together and assume the position of the aggressors and land grabbers, interlopers, and arch enemies of the family.
“This conspiracy and theft of our ancestral inheritance are despicable, grossly inhuman, morally corrupt, and traditionally belittling of a traditional title holder in Ijesaland.
“We have resolved to bring to the notice of the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Hastrup, that Chief Awe has been removed as the Petelua of Ilesa, and we also want Oba Ayoola to be removed as the Owasere. We are for peace and we want the concerned authorities to wade in on the matter urgently.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the monarch was unsuccessful as his phone number was switched off.
Meanwhile, Chief Awe, when contacted said the allegations were not true.
“All the allegations are not true. They are trying to spoil my name,” he said.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
