Controversy Trails Removal Of Iyaloja In Modakeke
A move by the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola, to install a new Iyaloja (market leader) has stirred controversy among market men and women in the town.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the process to install a new Iyaloja by the monarch is in top gear after the removal of Alhaja Khadijat Ibraheem Araokanmi, who was installed during the reign of late Oba Francis Adedoyin, Olaogbin.
On October 16, 2025, a section of market men and women in Modakeke besieged the Ogunsua palace to protest against what they described as ‘political removal’ of Alhaja Araokanmi.
A civil society organization, People Voices, has also raised alarm over the alleged plan, describing the move as a “threat to the town’s sacred traditions and cultural heritage.”
In a statement signed by its convener, Comrade Adeagbo Sikiru, the group expressed deep concern over the development, warning that such an action could cause disunity and distort the community’s historical and cultural foundations.
According to People Voices, the position of Iyaloja in Modakeke is a traditional and spiritual office, not a political appointment. The group maintained that Alhaja Khadijat Ibraheem Araokanmi remains the rightful and duly installed Iyaloja, having been confirmed during the reign of the late monarch, HRM Oba Francis Olatunji Adedoyin (Olaogbin I).
“The office of the Iyaloja is not subject to political manipulation or party influence,” the statement read. “Once installed through due traditional process, the holder remains in office for life unless incapacitated or voluntarily abdicated.”
The organization cautioned against any attempt to impose another person into the position while the incumbent remains alive, describing it as “a direct affront to Modakeke’s tradition and palace authority.”
People Voices further urged the Modakeke Progressive Union (MPU), the Ogunsua-in-Council, and other stakeholders to reject what it termed a “political experiment,” warning that allowing political interference in traditional matters could lead to future instability.
“The alleged coronation of another Iyaloja, if allowed, would set a dangerous precedent,” the statement noted. “It risks turning our sacred institutions into tools of political control, undermining the dignity of the palace and the unity of our community.”
The group concluded by appealing to all sons and daughters of Modakeke to stand firm in defence of the community’s customs and ensure that tradition remains above politics.
The group also faulted a comment credited to the Osun State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Sesan Oyedele, who allegedly described the Iyaloja position as a political office. The group called his remark “misleading, disrespectful, and a distortion of Modakeke tradition.”
“The Iyaloja title is not political and has never been under partisan influence. It is a traditional stool, just like the Balogun, Oosa, Alagbaa, Baba Mogba, and Iyalode titles, guided by age-long customs and sacred values,” the statement emphasized.
The group further alleged that some palace chiefs had accepted financial inducements to back the parallel installation, warning that such actions “betray Modakeke’s heritage and threaten its unity.”
They urged the palace authorities, community elders, and political leaders to uphold Modakeke’s peace and protect the sanctity of its customs.
“Modakeke must never allow politics or money to corrupt its values. Those who seek to sow discord should know that the peace and unity of our community supersede personal ambition,” the group warned.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
