…Says Yawota, Esinele fall under Onikoyi, not Soun Ogbomoso

A pressure group, “Ikoyi Land Diaspora”, has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently intervene in the installation of a new Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ile, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying the installation is critical to strengthening security in the area.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Alabi Adeola, the group urged Governor Makinde to prevail on the warring parties to the royal stool to expedite the selection process for a new traditional ruler.

The town has been without an Oba since 2022 after Oba Abdulyekeen Ayinla Oladipupo IV joined his ancestors.

Adeola said the vacant stool has created a leadership vacuum that is fueling insecurity, particularly in Yawota and Esiele communities under Ikoyi-Ile, where bandits last Friday attacked two schools, killed two persons and abducted 46 persons, including pupils, students and teachers.

According to the statement, “The installation of a new Onikoyi has become imperative to address the security concerns in Yawota and Esiele.

“With an Onikoyi in place, the monarch can convene security meetings, engage local hunters, and prioritise the safety of communities under his domain.”

The Chairman noted that the absence of a traditional head has left the communities without coordination on security matters, noting that the Onikoyi should serve as the arrowhead of local security architecture and as a liaison between the government and the communities.

“Yawota and Esiele, which came under attack last Friday, are under Ikoyi-Ile, not Ogbomoso. An Onikoyi would understand the terrain and nuances of each community far better than anyone from Ogbomoso.

“He would take the security of Ikoyi-Ile more seriously. He is the one who coordinates the activities of all Baales and always prevails over security concerns, Adeola stated.

The group stressed that security is local, and traditional rulers play a vital role in intelligence gathering, threat identification, and community mobilisation.

“No amount of security deployment will stop these bandits without the active involvement of our Obas and community heads,” Adeola added.

He recalled that Ikoyi-Ile is an ancient land of warriors whose people dispersed across the globe following wars and internal political crises in the late 18th century.

While commending Governor Makinde for his prompt response to the recent abductions and for collaborating with security agencies to ensure the safe return of victims, the group insisted that filling the Onikoyi stool should be part of broader measures to address insecurity.