IJEBU IGBO TOWN HALL AND THE GAME OF POLITICS OVER THE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

*IJEBU IGBO TOWN HALL: COMMUNITY ELDERS WON THE BATTLE OF ITS MANAGEMENT POSSESSION!*

By

Olu Steve

17th, August 2020

The strive towards managerial possession of the Ijebu Igbo town hall, especially during this Orimolusi interregnum, is said to have dramatically brewed up a diplomatic contention amongst the Ijebu North Local Council Authority, the Council of Obas and the Council of Elders, in which the trio laid claims to the rightful authority over the management of the community asset.

The management of the community heritage, the town hall, which has remained one of the legacies of Oba Adeboye – the architect of new contemporary Ijebu Igbo – the enigmatic hero who laid its foundation in 1950s, is at this time attracting conflicting interests within the town.

An in-depth investigation into the imbroglio unveils that the community edifice, a one time pride of the community within Ijebuland, had enjoyed proper management before the demise of the last Paramount ruler of the town, Oba Sami Adetayo – who joined his ancestors in May, 1994. In his lifetime, his patriotic leadership commitment to the wellbeing of the heritage reflected in 1985 when *DYNAS CLUB* of Ijebu Igbo organized *Orimolusi Day Celebration* with special official launching of Ijebu Igbo Town Hall Development Fund.

The eminent personalities amongst the illustrious citizens of the town, people like Alh. Popoola Salami, Alh. S. Ola. Kassim, Alh. L. A. T. Adeleye, Chief Isamasta Ashiru, Chief Tunji Ogunyemi, Chief D. O. Olufowote, Mrs. Adun Rowaiye, Chief Mrs. P. O. Dina and many others were constituted in that 1985 to form the development fund committee and management, all in the interest of preserving the Orimolusi heritage – the town hall.

Further investigation however unveils that, few years after the demise of Oba Adetayo, the edifice began to wear off due to the conflict of interest over its management, deteriorating as a result of negligence and abandonment. The building subsequently turned out to become an eye-sore as its structural components began to deteriorate including the roof, windows and doors, to the extent it turned out to be hideout for miscreants and abode where lunatics lodged.

Our correspondent, in the course of this investigation, could not intimately ascertain the fundamental clue that instigated the subsequent negligent attitude of the constituted members of the development fund committee to the great asset, even after the demise of Oba Adetayo, which sadly led to its total degeneration!

Meanwhile, it was realized that the building had remained abandoned for years until about 2006 when Barrister Kalejaiye, during his tenure as Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government, deemed it extremely patriotic to revive the glory of the edifice. It was gathered that Barr. Bola Kalejaiye thereby renovated the building in 2006.

According to the history of the building, it was said that when the Ijebu North Local Government Council was created in 1976, the community under the headship of Oba Sami Adetayo released the building to the then government for usage to commence the council administration activities until the permanent site is built. Barrister Kalejaiye, during ICE general meeting in December, 2019, asserted that it was on this gesture that he felt concerned to renovate the building for better usage.

Barr. Kalejaiye said, “…when the Local Council Authority was moved to the present site, the town hall was left in a bad condition and never looked back to its renovation. When I then had the privilege to be the Council Chairman, one of my goals was to ensure the town hall was renovated, and which I did…”

After the renovation, further investigation revealed that the IJEBU IGBO DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION through the letter dated 27th of Nov. 2006 requested for the local government approval to transfer the management of the edifice to the association (IIDA).

Premised on the request, the reply from LG on the 10th of January, 2007 transferred the management authority to IIDA, stipulating therein that the edifice be given out for rentage and to be carefully preserved and make it more attractive.

Meanwhile, Ijebu Igbo Development Association (IIDA) was a renowned community strong force in the development stride of the town. Since its formation, quite reputable Elders with impeccable integrity had become the Chairman of the association until its last Chairman in the person of Otunba Toyin Abasss, the CEO of Rolatex Hotel and Babaloja of Ijebu North.

It was thereby said that from year 2007, the IIDA had been managing the affairs of the building, with proper cleanliness and mini renovation. A visit to the building showed that the main hall floor had been tiled, equipped with ceiling fans and beautified with new paint. And all these attractiveness were said to have been executed by the revenue generated from the rents of the hall.

NewsWatch correspondence closely gathered that, the revenue generated on the building allegedly brewed a politics of management possession that instigated the Ijebu North Local government during the administration of Adebayo Adekoya in 2018 to strip the IIDA of the management right over the town hall.

In a letter dated 18th May, 2018 from IJNLG to IIDA, the association was alleged of non-remittance of revenues to LG since 2007, and as a result the right of management was ceased.

Thereafter, in recognition of Ijebu Igbo Council of Elders (ICE) as the registered Progressive Voice of Orimolusi Kingdom, IIDA wrote a letter to the then Executive Chairman of ICE, Prof. Layi Ogunkoya, informing the decision of Bayo Adekoya’s led administration over the community town hall and committed the Elders to look into the matter.

Investigations further revealed that the decision of LG was politically motivated. An insider who confessed to our correspondent alleged some people who had demanded the share out of the revenue generated from IIDA manipulated the decision of the LG. It was said that, there are many town halls in Ijebu North Local government, like Ago Iwoye’s, Oru’s, and Awa’s which are not controlled by LG Authority. Then, why Ijebu Igbo town hall?.....said the anonymous.

“…we can see the handwriting on the wall very conspicuous! We know that the revolt against the decision of the sectional ruler to use the town hall land to build palace mastermind all this game. It is not going to stand….. Said the insider*

On this note, it is said that the effort to thereby reclaim the community heritage back from Bayo Adekoya led administration by ICE continued for two years fruitlessly until the recent time when the newly inaugurated LG transition committee helped the matter. In the struggle, it was further exposed that the effort of ICE all this while met the brick wall of the machination of the Council of Obas in Ijebu Igbo who also approached the LG with interest to take over the town hall management.

Eventually, the current chairman of ICE, Engr. Bayo Dayo in collaboration with the ICE BOT chairman, Prof. Layi Ogunkoya, stood their ground through the aid of Hon. Ismail Sansa to recover the community heritage back from the authority of Ijebu North Local government.

As at May/June of year 2020, the ICE remains the custodian of the management of the Ijebu Igbo Town Hall.

CityNewsWatch2020