Olorunda Community in Oke Ogun, Ogun State, has dismissed a protest led by Keesan Orile Village against the upcoming coronation of the Coronet Oba of Olorunda Township, HRH Oba Joshua Olusegun Philips-Ogunsola, scheduled for Friday, March 14, 2025.
The protest, staged at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Abeokuta, was condemned by the Chiefs and residents of Olorunda, who described the allegations as misleading and an attempt to rewrite historical facts.
In a press statement signed by Engr. Oluwarotimi G. Olaegbe, Secretary of the Olorunda Community Descendants Union (OCDU), the community asserted that the Egba people have settled in Oke Ogun for over 190 years, dating back to 1833 after the Owiwi War, without any challenge from Imala and Keesan Orile over their lands.
“The protest is nothing but a desperate move by certain elements to destabilize the peace and progress of our community,” the statement read.
The community emphasized that Olorunda remains the central town of the Egbas in Oke Ogun, founded by Seriki Sowumilola Sokenu, the Balogun of Ijeun and Seriki of Egbaland, who passed away in 1861. It stated that the forefathers of the Egbas settled in these lands through conquest and had maintained peaceful coexistence without external claims for nearly two centuries.
The statement further clarified that Olorunda and its surrounding villages—including Aragba (Aro Agba), Orunto, Ikereku, Ijaiye, Iyalode, Ogagun, Gbegbinlawo, Lukoto, and Akinwunmi—are predominantly Egba settlements, not under the jurisdiction of Keesan Orile or Imala.
Rejecting claims that HRH Oba Philips-Ogunsola is not an indigene of Olorunda, the statement affirmed that the monarch’s father previously served as Balogun and later Baale of Olorunda.
“The facts speak for themselves. The Oba is a true son of the soil, and his ascension is in line with our historical and cultural heritage,” the statement added.
The community leaders also noted that those opposing the coronation had previously frustrated developmental projects, including the establishment of a police post, renovation of the health center, and commissioning of a customary court.
“This same group has opposed every effort to uplift Olorunda, yet they now claim to be fighting for the community’s interest. Their intentions are questionable,” the statement noted.
The rejoinder referenced a legal battle in Suit No. AB/07/2015, where Chief Ayinde Enitan (Baale of Keesan Orile) filed a case against the Nigerian Police Force over land ownership for the Olorunda police post. The case was dismissed by Hon. Justice M. A. Dipeolu on January 10, 2020.
“They lost their case in court and never appealed the ruling. Now, they resort to public protests in an attempt to achieve through false narratives what they failed to prove legally,” the statement emphasized.
The community has called on security agencies to ensure peace, urging the Ogun State Government to disregard the fabricated allegations against the coronation.
“The reign of Oba Philips-Ogunsola promises unity, progress, and sustainable development. We urge residents to shun divisive tactics and embrace the future of Olorunda with hope and determination,” the statement concluded.
