ONIDO SUSPENSION: FACTS, OPINIONS AND REACTIONS
Ido is a predominantly agrarian town in Ido local government
of Oyo State. Ido has been a local government capital since the days of
Akinyele West up to the creation of Ido Local government.
Ido indigenes and residents are known to be peace loving and
law abiding.
Traditional institutions in the area are known to be
respected and respectful of law and order.
That was until tongues started to wag accusing Oba Gbolagade
Babalola, the reigning monarch of various nefarious activities. The veracity of
the allegations was still being speculated when news broke on 2nd
February that the traditional ruler has been suspended by the state
government. The statement by the Oyo
State Commissioner for Information and orientation revealed that the suspension
was because of alleged link with illegal miners in the area.
A group of youth in the local government opined that the alleged
association with illegal miners is just a tip of the iceberg. A spokesman of
the group urged that further investigation by government will reveal other
illegal activities supported and encouraged by Babalola.
Some of the activities include Land grabbing, illegal harboring
of illegal immigrants and terrorizing the neighborhood.
According to other citizens, the suspended monarch keeps
many dangerous herdsmen who have been expelled from neighboring Ibarapa region
and other places in a Kara he created in Ilaju, a nearby village between Ido
and Eruwa, where he resides.
These miscreants unleash terror on people living in the area
with the protection of the suspended monarch.
He has also been accused of causing disharmony among
families and people in Ido, Ilaju and other neighboring villages. This, they
say, is to divide and rule perpetually.
With the suspension of the monarch, a lot of people have
heaved a sigh of relief. The presence of security operatives around his
residence has given residents a chance to sleep with both eyes closed.
Some sources claim Gbolagade Babalola is not an indigene of
or in any way related to Ido. He is described as a prospector who stated his sojourn
in Ido as a worker in a farm in the area. Having been lucky to have made
fortunes in Ido, he used the money made to buy his way to the throne.
If he was an indigene of the town, he wouldn’t be involved in activities capable of
tarnishing the image the founding fathers of Ido have maintained for decades.
The people therefore urged the Executive Governor of Oyo
State, Engineer Seyi Makinde and the Olubadan of Ibadan Land to save Ido from
this strange impostor and usurper.
Ido has known peace since the suspension of Gbolagade Babalola.
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