#TBW EXCLUSIVE: Concerned sons & daughters of Gbagura reject their new king

AGURA CRISIS: Putting the issues in right perspective.

How justice Bakare unduly foist his nephew on Gbagura.

The crisis that follows the emergence of Saburee Babajide Bakare is taking new dimension as more Princes and stakeholders frowned at his selection.

The argument in most quarters is that his selection is against all norms as he is not a Prince or an heir apparent from Egiri  ruling house.

It was argued that monarchical control of Gbagura is solely between two ruling houses, Jiboso and Egiri.

While Jiboso rotates his turns between Sobekun and Olubunmi, the Egiri has to contend between the three of his royal clans namely Jamolu, Ijade and Abolade.

The Jamolu later gave way to Adeosun when they could not produce a direct male heir to the throne. It was said that both Jamolu and Adeosun are brothers. The reason why he became a royal house replacing Jamolu.

As the Jamolu was luck to have a replacement in Adeosun, the case is not the same with Ijade royal house who could not also produces a direct male heir to take shot at the stool. 

That was said to be the reason why they ruled the Gbagura empire only once. 

Jamolu whose reign is between 1870 and 1877 was the first monarch to rule the Gbagura clan. He was succeeded by Ijade, two years Jamolu joined his forebearers. 

 Ijade reigned for 18 years between 1879 and 1897.

After the demise of Ijade in 1897, the vacancy to the throne went to the Jiboso Ruling house for the first time.

 It was the Olubunmi that ascended the throne and he reigned for 13years between 1897 and 1910.

After the demise of Olubunmi in 1910, another royal house from Egiri, Abolade cast his first shot at the royal stool and he lasted for five years between 1910 and 1915.

In 1915, when it is time for Jamolu royal house again, Adeosun emerged as candidate of Jamolu because there wasnt a direct male to fill the vacancy, the reason his brother (Adeosun) has been using the privilege. 

It could be recalled that Adeosun has ruled at two seperate times since 1915 till date. 

Check the list below:

1. Jamolu:  1870 -1877 {Egiri)

2. Ijade: 1879- 1897 {Egiri}

3  Olubunmi 1897 -1910 {Jiboso}

4. Abolade 1910 - 1915 {Egiri}

5. Adeosun I/Jamolu 1915  - 1936 {Egiri}

6. Sobekun I 1936 -1960 {Jiboso}

7. Adeosun II 1961 ~ 1978 {Jamolu/ Egiri}

8. Sobekun II 1980 ~2018 {Jiboso}

Another source who didn't want his name in the print for fear of attack queried that all Agura princes have their royal houses traced to Oke Iddo. He, however, wondered how a Bakare, who was not known to have a traditional link to any of the houses will energe as Agura~elect.

Meanwhile,  the 1957 Declaration of Chief Law, that regulate the selection of the Agura of Gbagura, in the Section 4 (2) of that Customary law clearly, without ambiguity, stated that;

i) There is only two Ruling Houses (Egiri and Jiboso)

ii) That the order of rotation shall be between ( Egiri and Jiboso)

iii) That the suitable candidates for the stool of Agura of Gbagura should be sons of prevoous holders of the post or  male descendants from the royal  houses.

among others. 

( Appendix (i) for the details)

Justice Bakare's influence:

It was, however, revealed that one Justice Bakare, a retired Justice and a prominent Gbagura son is the brain behind the energence of Saburi Bakare, his nephew, as the Agura~elect. 

According to finding, it was discovered that Justice Bakare has been participating  in all the palace meetings in the guise of guiding the kingmakers and regency council with the knowledge of law. 

There are several instances of report of distrupting the procedures of the processes that led to final selection.

It was reported in one of the meeting that Justice Bakare whose candidate was foist on people came to palace with Ifa priest that predict his nephew as the choice. A desperation taking too far to enforce his interest.

According to the sources,  there are only five surviving out of the twelve kingmakers who are saddled with responsibility of selecting the Agura.

These remaining five were said to be privileged to decide on the contestants for the royal stool. 

.

When all his threats to stampede the process failed, Justice Bakare went to all the kingmakers overnight to make a deal on selection on a date that was not known to other Princes. He was, however, said to have bribed them with the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) each with another promise of a car each to all the five kingmakers after the selection and eventual approval by the State Govt.

Meanwhile, Justice Bakare has been going around to see some of the prominent sons of Gbagura and Egba as a way of seeking their support to seek legitimacy and endorsement for his nephew.

There are, however, strong opinion that if this aberration is allowed unchallenged, a day would come that a bastard would emerge  as Agura of Gbagura. 

In the wake of this crisis, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs have to resign in a similar case that affect his constituency. 

Meanwhile,  there are clarion call to the incoming administration to revisit some of these appointments to put the things in the right perspective to save our traditional institutions from total collapse as a result of infiltration. 

By Concerned sons and daughters of Gbagura.

Court asked to nullify appointment of Bakre as Agura of Gbagura.