By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Itoku sons and daughters – home and abroad, have passed a “vote of no confidence” in Itoku Traditional Council in Egbaland, Ogun State following alleged refusal of the Oluwo Itoku, Chief Olusoji Sodamola to toe the path of peace and Justice in Itoku township and homesteads.
In a letter dated March 24, 2025 and addressed to the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo, they drew the revered monarch’s attention to Chief Olusoji Sodamola’ anti – peace disposition, alleging that he bluntly rejected the twelve (12) terms of settlement listed by the delegates of Itoku sons and daughters which were deemed necessary to bring lasting peace to the area.
The letter which was written on their behalf by their counsel, M.B Ogundare Esq, was copied to the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Honourable Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, the Attorney General and Honourable Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command.
Others copied include the State Director, Department of State Security (DSS), High Chief Sikirul’lahi Atobatele, Balogun Egba, High Chief Suarau Alani Bankole, Apena Egba, High Chief Oluyinka Kufile, Aaro Egba and High Chief Akanni Akinwale, Baagbimo Egba.
They alleged that Chief Kehinde Sofenwa, Chief Oluwole Odekunle, Chief Monsuru Odedeyi, Chief Seyi Onifade, Chief Muraina Ikanrede among others hide under the umbrella of Itoku Traditional Council of Chiefs where Chief Olusoji Sodamola is the Oluwo to hijack properties of various families in Itoku township and villages.
The petitioners further alleged that the listed Chiefs eventually sold the hijacked Properties and diverted the proceeds afterwards for their personal use.
The Itoku sons and daughters specifically and respectfully appealed to the Paramount ruler to create a conducive atmosphere and level ground for them to protect the interests and right of Itoku sons and daughters against the people they described as “tyrants,” who they claimed are also masquerading as their traditional leaders in Itoku township and villages.
According to them, the appeal became necessary to rescue Itoku assets in the interest of justice and future of Itoku generations.
They also demanded that the Ogboni Itoku must not commit further act of transferring the resources of the commonwealth of Itoku to anybody for any reason whatsoever without the knowledge and consent of the Baales in Orile Itoku individually and collectively as the traditional administrators of the area.
They listed the litany of alleged wrong doings of Chief Olusoji Sodamola, including refusal to toe the path of peace set by the Alake through Alhaji Moshood Akinyele (AMERICO) and embarking on irrational activities to further consolidate all the wrongs he had done in the past.
The alleged wrongs committed by the Oluwo Itoku read in part: “The Oluwo Itoku; Chief Olusoji Sodamola have, this while refused to toe the path of peace set by Your Royal Majesty through Alhaji Moshood Akinyele (AMERICO) which has given him the privileged opportunities of arriving in Nigeria without being arrested for jumping Police administrative bail that led to the conviction of his surety, Semiu Adeosun for two (2) years imprisonment with N200,000:00 option of fine, amongst other crises and alleged criminal activities involving him and his co-chiefs.
“Instead, Chief Sodamola further embarked on his irrational activities to consolidate all the wrongs done in the past, showing tendencies to continue to do more.
“It is highly embarrassing that Chief Sodamola refused to recognize and discuss with Alhaji Moshood Akinyele whom Your Royal Majesty tasked with the responsibilities of moving round the Itoku Villages and Township with his team to resolve the crisis throughout the three (3) months of their running up and down on the matter before being given a soft landing in Abeokuta.
“On his arrival in the first week of March, 2025, theOluwo Itoku refused to relate with Alhaji Akinyele and his team that are finding amicable and lasting resolutions to the crisis. He shunned all the aggrieved people of Itoku township and villages but continued with his embarrassing activities.
“Your Majesty Sir, it is on record that Alhaji Moshood Akinyele was forced to call your attention to these complaints upon which you intervened before Chief Sodamola reluctantly called Alhaji Akinyele for a meeting with the Otun Baba Adeen Itoku, Alhaji Sulaiman Danyiwo in attendance. He later moved ahead with his plans.
“It is worth noting that Chief Olusoji Sodamola attended the Ogboni Itoku Traditional Council meeting for the first time in two (2) years and installed Chief Oluwole Odekunle as Lisa Itoku from his previous title of Akinrogun Itoku in the Olorogun Itoku section.
“He also conferred the chieftaincy title of Apena Itoku on his Oluwo Ifa, who was never an Itoku chief and did not come from the families of Apena Itoku.
“He went further to dethrone Chief Sunday Ojelade, Baase Itoku for what he termed ‘his ineffectiveness to confront Itoku indigenes that are complaining against the activities of Ogboni Itoku chiefs’ and relegated him to the Bantun Itoku.
“All these acts were taken by him without prior discussion with other Itoku High Chiefs including the Balogun Itoku – Alhaji (Chief) Semiu Sodipo and Lukotun Itoku (Acting Jagunna) – Chief Kehinde Jacobs.
“At the next Ogboni Itoku Traditional Council meeting of Thursday, 20th March, 2025, Chief Sodamola promoted Chief Monsuru Odedeyi from Baajito Itoku to Baase Itoku, Chief Seyi Onifade from Jagunmolu Aje Itoku to Nlado Itoku and Chief Luwayi from Nlado Itoku to Ntoye Itoku.
“He also summoned an emergency meeting of Ogboni Itoku Chiefs on Tuesday, 25th March, 2025 to promote some Ologun Itoku chiefs into the chieftaincy titles of Otun, Osi, Ekerin, Seriki and Aare without the presence of Balogun Itoku.
“All these people that are being promoted by him are those that conspired and perpetrated wrong doings with him against the patriotic citizens of Itoku township and homesteads.”
