By DAUD OLATUNJI

IT was an action, some thought, offended even the gods as it reduced an otherwise respected Oba to an object of public humiliation and ridicule. For how else could one describe a situation where a royal father was stripped stark naked by some of his irate subjects after his family members were attacked  and  his palace set  ablaze?

The Oba was said to have been dragged out of his Sport Utility Vehicle and  beaten by some hoodlums who claimed to be aggrieved over his emergence as the Oba of the town.  On that fateful Monday, the age-old tradition of the community  was disdainfully trampled upon and the culture desecrated following the sacrilegious action of the invading attackers.

Indeed, the question on many lips since this incident took place is, what really was the offence of the royal father. It was a question readily echoed by those who have seen the  nude picture of  Oba Lateef Adeniran, the Olofin of Ado-Odo in Ado-Odo ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

*Oba Adeniran…stripped naked by hoodlums

Most people who spoke to Vanguard Metro, VM,  on the incident submitted that the action was a sacrilege and a  bad omen for the society and at the same time confirms  that royal fathers, too, are not spared of the worsening insecurity in the society. They readily cite recent instances of abuse of royal institution across the country, attributing same to the unworthy manner  some traditional rulers behave which sometimes prompt  their subjects to  attack them.

But they were also quick to acknowledge that what happened  to  the embattled Oba Adeniran  on the fateful Monday was  not as a result of any bad behaviour by the Olofin of Ado- Odo, but because  he was not wanted  as the Oba by some people who were aggrieved about  his emergence.

Monarch’s attackers

VM  gathered that the monarch’s attackers  were protesting the validation of his appointment by a Supreme Court judgement delivered in January 12, 2009. They  allegedly stormed his palace but did not meet the monarch; they vented their spleen by destroying his cars.

Unfortunately, the monarch was  sighted on his way to Ilaro  by the hoodlums  who  forcibly stopped his  jeep and dragged him out of the vehicle  before they  started beating him  and then stripped him naked.

According to findings, Oba Adeniran  is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Abeokuta, the state capital, for the injuries he sustained on his head and other parts of the body.

VM  learnt that the monarch’s wives, children  and his palace staff were said to have sustained  some degrees of injuries during the riot.

A reliable source  who pleaded anonymity told VM  that the rioters had earlier in the day gone  to the palace to challenge the monarch for not visiting victims of an accident which occurred few days ago. According to the  source , though the Kabiyesi was not in the palace as at the time the rioters visited, but several cars parked at the palace garage were destroyed.

“He was on his way back from Ilaro when some of the rioters saw him, beat him black and blue and tore his garment.  Luckily he escaped  by the whiskers before he could be fatally injured”.

Confirming the incident, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said that the police have restored order to the town. Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said that seven people have been apprehended in connection with the crisis, assuring  that all those involved in the attack on the monarch would be apprehended and brought to book.

“I know some people went to the palace and attacked the Oba of Ado-Odo, but normalcy has been returned to the town. The Commissioner of Police has been there and we are going to ensure that the needful is done to bring all those involved in the act to book,” the police spokesman said.

Giving graphic details of  the incident, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bashorun Muyiwa  Oladipo, told VM that the crisis led to the closure of shops. He said:  “All the shops were closed and the palace was set ablaze, including about two cars and of course the police were on ground to maintain peace and order. What happened was a sacrilege; the traditional institution of that town in particular and the state in general have been debased and I believe that the town will  take adequate steps to correct it in the nearest future”.

When asked whether the state government was disturbed  about  the incessant desecration of tradition in  the state, Oladipo  who inspected the  level of  damage done during the attack said:  “Definitely government is disturbed; indeed any reasonable man will definitely be disturbed. I have  met with the indigenes of the town, particularly the youths, because  I want to believe that the youths were more involved in what happened, and I addressed them on behalf of the state government and Governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The government is going to set up a panel of enquiry to know  the immediate and remote causes of the problem and, of course, we are going to base whatever we are going to do  on the  recommendation of that panel”.

When pressed further  to disclose his findings during his assessment, Oladipo said: “All I know is that I will not want to pre-empt  the investigation of the panel of enquiry. So, I will rather prefer it being left like that so that indigenes of the town themselves can present their cases before the panel.

Indigenes of the town

“These are the things we inherited and I am glad to say that just few days ago a Council of Obas was inaugurated by the governor and I am sure without doubt the council under the chairmanship of  the Awujale and  Paramount ruler of Ijebuland,  Oba Sikiru  Adetona, will definitely look into it and make recommendation for us to act upon.

“ I have been getting calls and I know they must have called the Governor as well. I believe I don’t need to tell them, they are our fathers, elders, rulers; we have tremendous respect for them and of course I know that in their own little way, they will want to find a lasting solution to it”.

He, however, advised the royal  fathers  in the state to shun violence and try to live above board in all their doings, adding that they are expected to be role models to their people. “To  the people on the other side, whatever the case may be, the traditional institution is a revered institution, we must respect them and  pray to God for his mercies,” the Commissioner said.