Traditional council: Don't set Surulere on fire, Aresaadu royals, senior chiefs warn Oyo govt

Traditional council: Don’t set Surulere on fire, Aresaadu royals, senior chiefs warn Oyo govt

Yinka ADETUNJI

A crisis of unprecedented proportion might be brewing in Surulere local government area of Oyo state over the recent purported declaration of the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon His Royal Majesty Oba Francis Olusola Alao as the permanent chairman of Surulere local government Traditional Council.

Recall that few weeks ago, an online media platform broke the news of the appointment of Olugbon as permanent chairman of the traditional council in the local government allegedly approved by the Oyo state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, citing a letter addressed to the Olugbon to that effect.

The position was previously rotated between Olugbon and Aresaadu of Iresaadu on two-year term basis. However, the Aresaadu throne is presently vacant following the transition of the last occupier His Royal Majesty Oba Jimoh Oloyede Osunbiyi lll few years ago.

Many thus believed it’s the absence of Aresaadu on the throne that is being exploited.

The new twist has been causing agitation in Iresaadu which is the headquarters of the local government. Thus, seeking confirmation or clarification the “mogajis (family heads), princes and high ranking chiefs of Aresa-adu of Iresa-Adu Royal Families of Surulere Local Government” had petitioned Governor Makinde via a strongly worded letter signed by Jimoh Oyediran (Mogaji Osunbiyi Ruling House), Fowomola Olanipękun (Mogaji Emiolu Ruling House), Chief Bayo Ogunmola (Balogun of Iresaadu)a and Chief (Prof) Adejobi Adejumo (Abese of Iresaadu). Others are Prince Oyekola Oladipo, Prince (Dr) Lafenwa Popoola and Prince (Dr) Sunday Oyedele Oyewo.

The letter copied to the Acting Governor of Oyo State, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy matters, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of Oyo state, and made available to ogbomosoinsightonline.com stated, “We write to draw your Excellency attention to a publication in Oyo INSIGHT of September, 2025 titled: MAKINDE APPOINTS OLUGBON PERMANENT CHAIRMAN OF SURULERE TRADITIONAL COUNCIL.”

They asserted the proposition was absurd in the face of historical antecedents and contemporary issues also condemning the attempt to confer prescribed authority over several Iresaadu towns on the Olugbon.

“The said publication also mentioned that Olugbon of Orile-Igbon has been clothed with prescribed authority over several minor chiefs. We perused the list of the minor chiefs and we are shocked to found several chiefs whose lands are not only under Aresa-adu of Iresa-adu suzerainty but whose towns are populated by the aresa kinsmen from time immemorial.”

They added they first dismissed the claim as spurious and promoted by mischief makers desirous of fomenting trouble and conflagration in the area but that it would be suicidal not to quench the fire in their roof.

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“At first glance, we were dismissive of the said news as the handiworks of mischief makers who are bent on setting an otherwise peaceful local government on fire and give your administration a bad name, since the purported appointment have no pedestal to stand upon.”

The combative letter defiantly rejected the proposition or approval in its entirety positing it amounted to elevating Olugbon over and above the Aresaadu which they claimed had no historical basis and never happened.

“Appointing Olugbon of Orile_igbon as Permanent Chairman of Surulere Local Government is nothing but placing Olugbon over Aresa-Adu of Iresa-Adu and OLUGBON OF IGBON CANNOT BE PLACE OVER AND ABOVE THE ARESA-ADU OF IRESA-ADU. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN HISTORY and WE WILL NOT WATCH THIS HAPPEN IN OUR LIFETIME.”

They now proceeded to justify their rejection pointing at history, Oyo state law, largeness of Iresaadu over Igbon and suzerainty over 7 wards (along with her brother town Iresapupa) against Igbon’s three as part of the reasons.

The insisted never in history had Igbon been placed over Iresaadu that at best they are on equal pedestals as provincial kings in the time of the old Oyo Empire.

Consequently, they urged the governor to rescind the decision to avoid anarchy in the council area to averring allowing it to stand would be tantamount to “stabbing history in the back.”

“Based on the above historical facts and laws and other valid reason which we cannot state now, but which are ready to produce if call to do, we call upon your Excellency to immediately reverse the appointment of Olugbon of Orile-Igbon as Permanent Chairman of Surulere Local Government Traditional Council as same is an aberration and revert back to the status quo (Rotation between Aresa-Adu and Olugbon on two year basis).

“Scrutinize the list of towns over which Olugbon has been given prescribed authority and confine his authority to those chiefs that are traditionally under his suzerainty.

“The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon should not be allowed allowed to stab history on its head and take what does not belong to him simply because we don’t have an Aresa-adu on the throne presently.”

For the record: The letter is reproduced here in full:

ARESA-ADU OF IRESAADU ROYAL FAMILIES

IRESA-ADU, SURULERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OYO STATE

10th September, 2025

His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde

The Executive Governor of Oyo State

Governor’s Office

Oyo State Secretariat

Agodi, Ibadan

Oyo State

Dear Sir,

WRONGFUL APPOINTMENT OF OLUGBON OF ORILE-IGBON AS PERMANENT CHAIRMAN OF SURULERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

We, whose names and signature appear hereunder, are Mogajis, Princes and High Ranking Chiefs of Aresa-adu of Iresa-Adu Royal Families of Surulere Local Government area of Oyo State and we write to draw your Excellency attention to a publication in Oyo INSIGHT of September, 2025 titled: MAKINDE APPOINTS OLUGBON PERMANENT CHAIRMAN OF SURULERE TRADITIONAL COUNCIL.

It was stated in the said publication (copy attached as APPENDIX A) that your Excellency has approved the appointment of the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao as the permanent Chairman of Surulere traditional council. The said publication also mentioned that Olugbon of Orile-Igbon has been clothed with prescribed authority over several minor chiefs. We perused the list of the minor chiefs and we are shocked to found several chiefs whose lands are not only under Aresa-adu of Iresa-adu suzerainty but whose towns are populated by the aresa kinsmen from time immemorial.

At first glance, we were dismissive of the said news as the handiworks of mischief makers who are bent on setting an otherwise peaceful local government on fire and give your administration a bad name, since the purported appointment have no pedestal to stand upon.

Nonetheless, if the appointment was truly made by your Excellency, it will be imprudent to fold our hand and keep quiet while our heritage is being stolen. Hence we choose to employ this medium to inform your Excellency that the Aresa-adu of Iresa-adu Royal Families rejects the appointment of Olugbon of Orile-Igbon as the Permanent Chairman of SuruLere Local Government and also his prescribed authority over chiefs who have been under Aresa-adu suzerainty for more than 400 years and we urge your Excellency to reverse the appointment.

Appointing Olugbon of Orile_igbon as Permanent Chairman of Surulere Local Government is nothing but placing Olugbon over Aresa-Adu of Iresa-Adu and OLUGBON OF IGBON CANNOT BE PLACE OVER AND ABOVE THE ARESA-ADU OF IRESA-ADU. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN HISTORY and WE WILL NOT WATCH THIS HAPPEN IN OUR LIFETIME.

However, to enable your Excellency take a well informed decision and have good basis for immediate reversal of the appointment we put forth the following:

HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS

There was no time in history when Aresa was subordinate to Olugbon. In fact, Iresa the town where Aresa reigns was at a period in history chief town of Ibolo Province comprising of Ede, Ofa, Oyan, Okuku and Ikirun. Please refer to pages 15 and 30 of the “History of the Yorubas” by The Rev. Samuel Johnson. Aresa status in history is over and above many of the prominent Obas (Awujale of Ijebu, Ataoja of Oshogbo Timi of Ede, Akirun of Ikirun to mentioned just a few) in other Yoruba State. Please refer to Page 25 of the of the “History of the Yorubas” by The Rev. Samuel Johnson (copy attached as APPENDIX B)

Historically, both Olugbon and Aresa were provincial kings of Alaafin of Oyo and one was not superior to the other. Please refer to page 180 of the “History of the Yorubas” by The Rev. Samuel Johnson.. They are equal in rank although aresa control more land. They left Ile-ife at the same. Aresa from Ilode quarters and Olugbon from Ilare quarters. During the imperialism of Alaafin Aresa was the head of Ibolo Province and Olugbon the head of Ekun Osi.(copy attached as APPENDIX C)

Olugbon and Aresa shared boundaries which were delimited several centuries ago vide a covenant freely enter into. Successive Olugbon and Aresa have always maintain mutual respect for their suzerainties and none has dare (until at least the latest attempt at affront) to cross into or meddle with the other territories.

The equality of both Olugbon and Area-adu in Yoruba History is loudly proclaimed in many Yoruba songs and proverbs and no person verse in Yoruba customs and folklore will attempt to place one above the other. Realizing their equal status, previous government ensure that the Chairman of the Traditional Council is rotated among them

LAWS OF OYO STATE

We believe that the State is regulated by law as provided under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In Oyo State issues of Obas and Chiefs is regulated by Chiefs Law Cap 28 Laws of Oyo State and Council of Obas and Chiefs Laws Cap 37 laws of Oyo State. We make bold to state that none of this laws placed Olugbon over and above Aresa of Iresa-adu. In fact, schedule 1 of Council of Obas and Chiefs Laws Cap 37 laws of Oyo State listed Olugbon and Aresa-adu as representing Surulere Local Government in Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.(Copy attached as APPENDIX D)

SURULERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Surulere Local Government Area comprised of 10 wards. Only three of this wards are under the suzerainty of Olugbon of Orile-Igbon , the remaining 7 wards are under the Aresa-Adu of Iresa-Adu and his brother Aresa-pupa of Iresa-apa.

The Chairman of Surulere Local Governments Traditional Council has always been rotated biennially (every two years basis) between Aresa-Adu of Iresa-Adu and Olugbon of Orile-Igbon.

The creation of Surulere Local Government Area came about through the efforts of Late Oba Jacob Oyedepo Oladipo and his princes who fought tooth and nail to ensure its establishment. The then Olugbon of Orile-Igbon and his people sought for “Aforiti Local Government “which was not created.

IGBON AND IRESA-ADU COMPARE

It is not gainsaying that apart from being the headquarters of Surulere Local Government, Iresa-adu is a much larger town than Orile-Igbon. Until the reign of Oba Osungbade the late Olugbon the numbers of houses in Orile-Igbon is not up to 15. After the first Orile-igbon was sacked by the Fulanis (Please refer to page 236 of the “History of the Yorubas” by The Rev. Samuel Johnson copy attached as APPENDIX E) the Orile-Igbon people did not go back to rebuild their town but the aresas went back to rebuild their town. The Igbon people were contented to dwell in Ogbomoso. This fact is confirmed in the Chiefs laws of Oyo State. In the list of Chiefs (wearing of beaded crown order) the Olugbon of Igbon was listed in paragraph 7 and bracketed against the name is Ogbomoso.

PRESCRIBED AUTHORTY

Prescribed authority is normally granted to an Oba over the chiefs who are under his suzerainty. Hijacking towns that are under the Aresa-adu of Iresa-Adu and placing them under the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon is nothing but provocation and a call to anarchy.

CONCLUSION

Based on the above historical facts and laws and other valid reason which we cannot state now, but which are ready to produce if call to do, we call upon your Excellency to immediately

reverse the appointment of Olugbon of Orile-Igbon as Permanent Chairman of Surulere Local Government Traditional Council as same is an aberration and revert back to the status quo (Rotation between Aresa-Adu and Olugbon on two year basis).

Scrutinize the list of towns over which Olugbon has been given prescribed authority and confine his authority to those chiefs that are traditionally under his suzerainty.

The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon should not be allowed allowed to stab history on its head and take what does not belong to him simply because we don’t have an Aresa-adu on the throne presently.

Thank you Sir

Yours faithfully,

The Mog

ajis, Princes and High Ranking Chiefs of Iresa-adu

Names: Signature