For some years now, the ancient town of Arandun, a community located in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has been experiencing crisis following the demolition of an ancient arch erected in honour of the progenitor, founder and the first King of the town, Oba Ibuoye.
The First Information Report made available to News Hub Mag! revealed that one Olaitan Abidoye carried out the demolition on the directive of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Ibukunle Olapade whose father was the second in command to Oba Ibuoye when he was the King.
News Hub Mag! reports that the illegal demolition generated lots of crisis, disunity, litigations and threat to life in the ancient town.
Some members of Oba Ibuoye family, whose lives have been in danger following the series of threats against them by one Gbenga Awoyale Odidere, who is reportedly working for Oba Olapade has however cried out for help saying they can no longer move freely in their own town.
News Hub Mag! also reports that a voice note has also surfaced revealing how the said Gbenga threatened a prominent figure in the Ibuoye family, Alhaji Ibrahim Gbenga Ibuoye and how he vowed to ensure he withdraws the security escort from him.
Gbenga Awoyale, in the voice note berated Alhaji Ibuoye, calling him through different unknown numbers to issue threats. Ibuoye in his response in the voice note reminded his assailant what the police told them in Abuja to maintain peace and also return the demolished arch to its normal state.
But, Gbenga, according to the voice note, said, “The world combined cannot bring back the Ibuoye ancestral arch, it is gone and gone for life …single handedly, I will withdraw police escort from you, I have told the community to allow me deal with you. If I don’t withdraw escort from you, tell me I am less than a man. We were watching you before but it is over for you, go and note everything I say today” he boasted.
Ibuoye, who is a renowned businessman and miner in Nigeria, has cried out for the safety of his life from the said Gbenga Awoyale complaining that he can no longer enter his home town as a free man.
In an emotional laden voice, he said he is baffled and traumatized at Gbenga’s determination to destroy him adding that he got the escort legally to secure him while working on site as a miner.
“I requested for the escort from the IGP because of the nature of my job as a miner and to safeguard my life against attempts from Oba Ibukunle and Gbenga Awoyale who are bent on terminating my life for no just cause. I have lodged a complaint with the police over their harassment and intimidation. I am a respecter of our laws. There is no time officers attached to me have created tension or harass anyone in Arandun. They were never on mufti.
“He was cursing and telling me that he would get me killed. Awoyale and Oba Ibukunle destroyed our Arch. He is not a Chief in Arandun, he boasted that no police can arrest him on the basis that he kill anyone. Gbenga Awoyale vowed to remove the Oba Ibuoye household from Arandun. If I die today, I have told my family that both Gbenga and Oba Ibukunle are responsible for it”, he said.
The head of the Ibuoye family, one Sunday Ibuoye, who spoke with this medium, confirmed that their lives, particularly that of Alhaji Ibrahim Gbenga Ibuoye, are in danger.
“Gbenga, who claimed to be a politician is never one but a thug, who at one time, insulted and threatened President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. He and Oba Ibukunle initiated the arrest of our people, calling us robbers because we questioned their actions in their attempt to remove Oba Ibuoye from history.
“They forgot that the Oba Ibuoye house exists in government documents and have a polling unit from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Supreme Court judgment.
Counsel to Alhaji Ibrahim Ibuoye, Barrister Olayinka Dauda Jimoh, however condemned the publication sponsored by the said Gbenga Awoyale against Alhaji Ibrahim Gbenga Ibuoye, calling the Inspector General of Police and the Kwara State Commissioner of Police Kwara State to wade in before the matter degenerate into a break down of law and order.
“It is important to state that “Our client is a renown businessman whose life has been under incessant threat each time he visits his hometown, Arandun or his mining site around that area. As a result, many petitions have been written to the IG and CP, Kwara State to unmask those behind the threat to our client’s life. From the report, many lives have been taken in that area and many people kidnapped for ritual purposes with perpetrators yet to be unraveled.
“I am not unaware that some of the cases are still under police investigation while others are in Court. Attaching police personnel to our client by police authority is to protect his life and property and by extension, to protect the community and its people. This is commendable.
“However, an allegation that these officers are always on mufti and creates tension within the township is calling a dog a bad name so as to hang it. The allegation is absolutely false in all respects. As such, we urge the police authority to disregard same.
“The security personnel have made it difficult for the thugs to attack our client. It’s therefore uncharitable for any man to call for their withdrawal when there is an attempt on the life of my client. Alhaji Ibrahim Gbenga Ibuoye is a highly responsible and law abiding citizen who will never allow any illegality no matter how small to take place where he is.
“The report in the dailies contains high elements of defamation against our client. Our client has further instructed us to approach the Court in his bid to have his life and name protected,“ he said.
