Residents of Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State staged a peaceful protest over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Eleruwa stool.
The protesters, primarily youths, gathered at the entrance of the Eleruwa palace in Oke Oba to express their grievances.
Observers around the palace told newsmen that the protesters lit bonfires with tires to draw attention to their cause.
The protesters who brandished different placards with various inscriptions, demanded that the Oyo State Government investigate reports suggesting that the dethroned Eleruwa, Samuel Adegbola of the Akalako ruling house, had been nominated by the kingmakers and submitted to the state government for approval.
The protest was however, brought under control by security personnel before it could escalate.
An elder in the town, Mr. Musibau Olarewaju, confirmed that the protest indeed took place.
The dispute over the throne reportedly stems from allegations that the Ibarapa East Local Government Chairman, Kazzem Arogundade, presented a list of candidates from the Akalako ruling house to the kingmakers last week, excluding input from the Laribikusi ruling house.
This online newspaper had earlier reported that in compliance with the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration, the Laribikusi Ruling House has resolved its internal disputes by appointing Chief Dejo Akinlade as the head of the family.
The decision was reached earlier in the January, 2025 during an expanded meeting of Laribikusi royal House comprising for four families namely; Agbaragba, Ajao, Omoni, and Sabi.
The well attended expanded meeting of the Laribikusi royal House held on Saturday, January 11 at Oke-Oba, in Eruwa.
Following the resolution reached at the meeting, Chief Akinlade, on January 13 led a delegation of the ruling house to the executive Chairman of Ibarapa East Local Government, Hon. Kazeem Owolabi Arogundad, where they officially communicate the family’s resolution to him.
An official letter by the Laribikusi royal House was however received on behalf of the executive chairman.
As of time of filing this report, the state government has yet to make any statement regarding the nomination reportedly submitted to the state government by the Akalako royal House.