Society
Concerned Indigenes Protest Oba-Elect In Wole Soyinka’s Hometown, Petition Abiodun
urging him to declare the selection illegal
Concerned Indigenes of Isara, the hometown of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka in Remo North Local Government, Ogun State, have rejected the emergence of Oluwole Ogunbayo as the new Odemo of Isara.
Ogunbayo was announced as oba-elect on Monday, September 8, 2025, but the process is now being contested.
Operating under the banner Concerned Youths of Isara-Remo, Home and Diaspora, the aggrieved indigenes have petitioned Governor Dapo Abiodun, urging him to declare the selection illegal and direct the kingmakers to follow due process.
According to Vanguard, the petition signed by Wale Otedola (Diaspora President) and Kola Okusanya (Secretary) alleged that the exercise was marred by fraud, intimidation, coercion, impersonation of kingmakers, and militarization of the town.
“As stakeholders invested in the peace, progress, and cultural continuity of our homeland, we cannot remain silent while tradition is undermined. To disregard the Ifa Oracle’s verdict is to erode the foundation of Yoruba kingship,” the petitioners stated.
The Odemo stool became vacant after the passing of Oba Albert Adebose Mayungbe on May 1, 2025.
The petition comes amid what is described as a hasty move to crown Ogunbayo as the new Odemo.
