The controversy surrounding the Iyaloja chieftaincy title in Ibadan got to another height, Monday as the planned installation of Alhaja Iswat Abiola Ameringun as the new Iyaloja of Ibadanland was stalled at the Olubadan Palace.
According to The Point’s findings, Chief Mrs Labake Lawal, the incumbent occupant of the position refused to quit despite pressure from different quarters and the determination of the Palace to replace her.
A source privy to happenings in the palace told The Point that the embattled Iyaloja invited eminent personalities both from within and outside Ibadan to prevail on the Olubadan from installing Ameringun as her replacement.
According to the Olubadan palace itinerary for the day, seven chieftaincy titles were meant to be conferred on worthy indigenes, including Baales and Mogajis. But while six were conducted, that of the Iyaloja was suspended in spite of the presence of Ameringun, the planned recipient at the palace.
Our correspondent, who visited the palace observed an unusual heavy presence of security operatives including uniformed and plain cloth rifle carrying officers.
Tension was heightened when the state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, suddenly appeared at the palace to seek an audience with the monarch.
An unconfirmed palace source, however, claimed that the visit of the CP was to douse tension.
Few hours after the conferment of the first six chieftaincy titles were completed, it was observed that Amerigun and her supporters left the palace without being enthroned as the new Iyaloja of Ibadanland.
The palace source, who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent that the current Iyaloja, Lawal, complained to eminent Ibadan people that she was unfairly treated and that the move to dethrone her was meant to disgrace her.
“She was said to have run to some people who prevailed on the Olubadan not to enthrone another Iyaloja as scheduled,” said the source.
