Residents and indigenes of Ago-Are in Oyo State, including community leaders, kingmakers, youth groups and the Council of Baales, on Tuesday protested at the Oyo State Government Secretariat in Ibadan over the elevation of Baale Ageere, a Quarter Chief in Ago-Are, to a beaded crown-wearing Oba.

The protesters called on the state government to reverse the decision, arguing that it violated the community’s history and customs, which they said recognised the Aare of Ago-Are as the town’s sole beaded crown-wearing monarch.

They warned that the decision could heighten tension and trigger a communal crisis, insisting that the elevation was made without adequate consultation with relevant traditional institutions and stakeholders.

The groups also submitted separate petitions to the government, urging Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene in the dispute.

In a petition addressed to the governor through the office of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, the Edu Ruling House of the Aare of Ago-Are Chieftaincy described the elevation as an “invasion,” a “historic fraud” and a “customary coup” against the Aare stool.

The petition, signed by Prince Oyekola Ayilara and Prince Salam Oyewole, chairman and secretary of the ruling house respectively, argued that the community’s customs did not permit two beaded crown-wearing monarchs in Ago-Are.

“What has been done in Ago-Are is not elevation. It is an invasion. It is historical fraud. It is a customary coup d’etat against the throne of Aare of Ago-Are. There is only one Ago-Are. How then can there be two beaded crowns in one town, without two towns?” the petition stated.

The eight kingmakers of Ago-Are, in a separate petition, relied on the Aare of Ago-Are Chieftaincy Declaration, said to have been made under Section 4(2) of the Chief Law, arguing that it provided for only one beaded crown-wearing Oba in the community.

The kingmakers said the elevation was carried out without their consultation, a meeting at the Aare’s palace, or the consent of the Edu Ruling House.

“ Ago-Are cannot have two beaded crown Obas in one town. It has never happened in the history of Ago-Are. It will destroy the throne of Aare,” they stated.

They added that the kingmakers, whom they described as the first chiefs created by the Aare and recognised by the chieftaincy declaration, should have been consulted before the decision was taken.

The Ago-Are Council of Baales also opposed the elevation, declaring its support for the Aare stool as the community’s paramount traditional institution and appealing to the governor to reverse the decision.

In its petition, the council expressed concern that elevating a quarter chief to the status of a beaded crown-wearing Oba could create uncertainty among traditional leaders in the town.

“If Baale Ageere, who is Baale of one quarter inside Ago-Are, can become an Oba, what then are we? What will become of Ago-Are when there are now two Obas in the same town, in the same market, in the same land without boundaries?” the petition asked.

The Ago-Are Youth Forum and the Ifelodun Ago-Are Parapo Community Development Association also submitted separate petitions, alleging that the elevation was undertaken without the consent of the community or a stakeholders’ meeting involving the paramount ruler and other relevant parties.

The groups urged the Oyo State Government to review the decision and resolve the dispute in accordance with the community’s customs and chieftaincy declaration.

While receiving the protesters at the State Secretariat, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd) thanked the protesters for being peaceful in their demands and conduct.

Odukoya appealed to them to uphold the peace in the community, promising to deliver the copies of their protest to the governor.

The governor’s aide assured that the governor would give the matter the deserved attention as soon as he gets copies of the petitions.