Iresa-Adu town in Surulere LGA, Oyo State, almost descended into chaos a day before the Eid-el-Fitri celebration due to protests by youths and stakeholders over the vacant throne of the Aresa-Adu, which has remained unfilled for almost 10 years.
The stakeholders’ security meeting, convened to address the activities of unknown persons encroaching on Iresa villages and suburbs following kidnapping incidents in neighbouring Oriire Local Government Area, descended into a protest. Demonstrators demanded that the vacant throne of the Aresa-Adu be filled and carried placards calling for urgent intervention by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
It took the intervention of community leaders, elders, religious leaders, and law enforcement agencies present at the meeting to calm the protesters. They were eventually allowed to join the security meeting to prevent it from turning into chaos.
What was noticeable to journalists present was the absence of traditional leadership in the community. Baales, heads of royal families, high chiefs, and others present expressed various opinions and grievances. However, there appeared to be no consensus on coordinating a security strategy without the central coordinating role of the Oba Aresa of Iresa-Adu.
The youths, holding placards stating their demands, expressed frustration over the absence of a king for “almost 10 years.” One protester said, “This security meeting is just another in the series of meetings stakeholders have been holding in Iresa-Adu for the past eight years without meaningful benefits to the community.”
Another protester said, “Imagine an ancient town with so much history and heritage, yet we do not have a permanent higher institution, we do not have a bank, we do not have a king or palace. We have to travel to other towns for the most basic needs. Our women have to travel to other communities to sell their farm produce because we do not have a market in Iresa-Adu. Look at the town hall behind me; it is in a bad state, and yet we host all visitors here because we do not have a palace. Youths from other communities laugh at us. Our existence is shameful.”
When asked about Prince Oyerinde Adeyeye, who has been self-proclaiming himself as the Aresa-Adu for the last eight years, one protester responded, “You mean ‘Obasawogbo,’ meaning a ‘king that ran into the bush.’” The protester continued, “Adeyeye came from nowhere and tried to impose himself on us as king in 2019. He is a brother to the late Oba Jimoh Oloyede; both are from the Oshunbiyi family. There is a rotation gazette between the Emiolu and Oshunbiyi ruling houses of Iresa-Adu. It is impossible for Adeyeye to be Aresa-Adu. The entire community knows it is the turn of the Emiolu family to produce the next Aresa. In June 2019, when Adeyeye came to parade himself as the new king, the community, both young and old, including the high chiefs, beat and chased Adeyeye and his entire entourage out of town. Prince Adeyeye first ran into the bush and then managed to seek refuge at the Iresa-Adu police station. That is why he is nicknamed ‘Obasawogbo.’”
Another protester added, “Adeyeye, Obasawogbo, is only known for going around selling people’s lands and unlawfully installing baales and chiefs, causing problems among the royal families and communities. Not one of the kingmakers recognizes Adeyeye as king, and his own family, the Oshunbiyi ruling house, has said they never nominated him as king. The damage done to Iresa’s heritage in the last eight years is unforgivable.”
Another protester said, “Only Governor Seyi Makinde can save us in Iresa-Adu. Some people are financially and politically benefiting and exploiting the absence of an Oba in Iresa-Adu, and they are constantly turning the ruling families against each other. Aresa-Adu has the largest landmass in Surulere LGA. Even when the time comes, these exploiters want to impose a weak king on us for their own personal benefit. Look at the caliber of kings these days. We strongly believe only Governor Seyi Makinde can use his executive powers to reset the rotation between the two ruling families and give us a befitting king.”
