•Goriola Adeniyi Hassan & others at Imobi Ijebu
Elders and leaders of Imobi Ijebu in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State have petitioned the State Commissioner of Police, alleging that a theatre art practitioner, Goriola Adeniyi Hassan, is parading of himself as Oba of Imobi
They also accused him of purportedly performing some rites in the community.
The Daily Crucible reports that Goriola Hassan’s presentation of self as Oba of Imobi has been fraught with controversy.
In November 2021, Ogun State House of Assembly passed a resolution seeking the arrest of the Nollywood actor for allegedly parading himself as the Olu of Imobi.
The lawmakers at the time directed security agencies to present Hassan in Abeokuta to the assembly within 14 days of the passage of the said assembly’s resolution.
The resolution was the outcome of the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to the assembly. It was submitted by its Chairman, Mrs Bolanle Ajayi.
Ajayi later moved the motion during plenary for its adoption, was seconded by Mr Ganiyu Oyedeji, and supported by all the lawmakers through a voice vote presided over by the then Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo.
According to the committee’s observations in 2021, Hassan had allegedly converted a government building to private use and disobeyed orders to stop parading himself as the Olu of Imobi.
The committee also noticed that Hassan’s activities had been causing tension and disharmony to a degree that could lead to a crisis in the community if he was not restrained.
The committee also recommended in its report that Hassan should be arrested and handed over to security agencies for presentation to the state assembly.
The assembly, in its resolution, also called on the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to take necessary steps to ensure that Hassan desists from parading himself as Olu of Imobi.
That Committee’s report reads in part, “It would be recalled that the assembly had earlier extended three separate invitations to Goriola on Aug. 10, Aug. 17 and Sept. 2. respectively.
“He failed to appear to respond to allegations leveled against him by members of the Imobi Descendants’ Union, Imobi Ijebu Development Association, the Baales of the 36 villages in Imobi at the instance of the lawmakers.”
However, the unrelenting elders and leaders who observed that Hassan allegedly was still parading himself as an Oba on them, wrote the police to rein him in lest he plunges the peaceful community into needless crisis.
In a petition dated June 24, 2024 and signed by Prince Ayodele Adefuye Paul on behalf of the community leaders, they are calling on the concerned authorities to take right steps to restrain the said Goriola Hassan from further threat to public peace.
The petition which was copied to the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Dr. S.K. Adetona, the Ogun State House of Assembly, the Secretary to Ogun State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, read as follows: “On behalf of the Imobi Elders Forum, we wish to alert you and the general public on the fraudulent, mischievous and misleading activities of one Goriola Adeniyi Hassan, who, in the last couple of days, has been illegally parading himself as the newly “installed Oba of Imobi”, a lie that he has also flagrantly published on his social media handles to deceive the unsuspecting members of the public.
“We invite you to urgently step into this matter that could lead to communal crisis except this impostor is called to order.
“On his false claim of being installed as an Oba in Imobi, we say categorically that there is nothing farther from the truth! The Ogun State Government through the relevant agency, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the prescribed authority, the Ijebu Traditional Council (ITC), presided over by the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Alayeluwa Oba (Dr.) S.K. Adetona GCON, have not made such appointment.
“It would be recalled that this impostor, who claims to be a theater artiste was declared wanted by the Ogun State House of Assembly for similar crime of illegally parading himself as an Oba. The House of Assembly ordered the arrest of the said Goriola and this was widely reported in the news media including the PM News of November 18, 2021; while the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs also did a disclaimer on him.
“When accosted by law enforcement officers few years ago, the said Goriola claimed he was a theatre practitioner and the regalia and purported instruments of office found on him and the crown he used in several photographs are mere costumes for his theatre play.
“Having recently gotten the nod of the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to commence the process of appointing an Oba for Imobi, for the first time, the Ijebu Traditional Council under Kabiyesi Awujale, set up a committee of five royal fathers chaired by the Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo, Kabiyesi Alayeluwa Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adedeji Adebayo, to oversee the process. The Committee also include the secretary of the Ijebu Traditional Council who is also the Obiri of Ayepe, Kabiyesi Alayeluwa Oba Adebisi Okubanjo.
“The Committee visited Imobi on March 5, 2024 to interact with the people on their interests and choice of Oba. Another meeting was hosted by the same committee at the Afin Awujale in ijebu Ode on March 12, which was attended by community leaders and representatives of the kingship aspirants, including the said Goriola.
“The committee is yet to conclude its assignment and submit its report to Kabiyesi Awujale.
We therefore see the purported claim of having being installed as an Oba in Imobi, by Goriola as not only fraudulent and preemptive, it is a big insult on the Awujale and the people of Ijebuland; it is theatre act taken too far. It is an attempt to cause unrest within the peaceful Imobi community. Why Goriola resorted to Gorilla tactics may not be unconnected with the fact that he is aware that his characters, precedents and past criminal activities may not qualify him for the exalted position of an Oba anywhere, let alone in Ijebuland.
“The members of the general public, especially indigenes of Imobi at home and abroad, are hereby warned not to accord any recognition, monetary donations, or courtesy to the said Goriola; and not to transact any business with him because whosever does otherwise, will be at his or her own risk.
“Sir, we will appreciate your taking right steps to restrain the said Goriola Hassan from further threat to public peace.”
