Oyo Gov Suspends Ido Monarch

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has suspended the traditional ruler of Ido town, Oba Gbolagade Babalola, known as Gbadewolu I.

The monarch’s suspension, effective immediately, was made public in a letter issued on February 2, 2024, and signed by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola.

The letter disclosed that Governor Makinde’s decision to suspend Oba Babalola came on February 1, 2024.

The statement read, “I wish to inform you that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State of Nigeria, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sub-section 1 & 2 of Section 26 of the Chiefs Law, Cap. 28 Vol I, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 and by virtue of all other enabling powers in that regard, has approved your suspension as the Onido of Ido in the area of authority of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State.”

While specific reasons for the suspension or its duration were not provided, the directive requires the monarch to relinquish all government properties in his possession to the local government chairman.

The suspension announcement follows a historical dispute between Babalola and a deposed Baale, Tajudeen Agura, over the rightful claim to the Onido of Ido title, rooted in lineage and historical appointments.

In 2018, Agura had asserted his legitimacy as the Onido of Ido due to his Agura lineage but Babalola had replied that his great-grandfather’s appointment of the first Agura as Baale of Ido was based on their longstanding friendship.