Iperu Town Standstill As Ladi Adebutu Becomes Seriki

 

Chief Ladi Adebutu displaying his certificate of office

ABEOKUTA - The ancient town of Iperu Remo in Ikenne local government area of Ogun state was on Thursday lockdown for the installation of Ogun PDP Chieftain, and a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu as Seriki of Iperu land.

The entire town was beehive of activities as friends, associates, party members, and well-wishers were seen at various corners under a canopy with felicitation banner of Hon. Adebutu's chieftaincy title.

The event which took place at the Palace of Alaperu of Iperu, Oba Adeleke Idowu Basibo saw the ongoing road construction in the town on hold to allow free vehicular movement due to influx of people trooping into the town for the Baba Ijebu son.

 

Hon. Adebutu receiving a handshake from Alaperu of Iperu

Notable among the dignitaries that graced the occasion are, Senator Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Ogun APC factional chairman, Chief Derin Adebiyi, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele, PDP state Chairman, Barr. Taiwo Shote (Pepe), Mr. Rasheed Buruji Kashamu (Senator Buruji’s first son), first-class Obas from Remo Traditional Council, a team of foreign consultants from the United Kingdom constructing a multi-billion Naira processing plant in Iperu led by Mr. Greg Hodge.

THE ENCOUNTER NEWS reports that office of the Seriki of Iperuland has been vacant for almost forty (40) years after the demise of Balogun Martins.  There was no occupier of the title due to conflict of succession which eventually escalated to brewing conflicts amongst families, traditional institutions, among the Islamic faithful and various communities in Iperuland.

After forty years of succession conflicts which had led to disintegration Iperuland, the installation of Adebutu provided the first opportunity where all factions were present, dialogue and made new dawn for Iperuland in unity.

After several successful meetings, Adebutu was unanimously selected as the Seriki of Iperuland by all factions who became united after forty years that the position has been vacant.

Speaking shortly after the conferment of his chieftaincy title, elated Hon. Adebutu said the Seriki titleship is a gazetted office, and a kingmaker position. 

Hon. Adebutu in a hug with Senator Adeleke

He noted that, the Seriki position has been vacant for 40years due to succession conflict that ensued following the demise of former Balogun of the town, Chief Martins.

"Unfortunately, there is a misconception that it is a Muslim Chieftaincy title. It is not but by name it sounds like that. It is a gazetted Chieftaincy position. Infact, it is a second ranking position in the Mopere institution. 

"Balogun is their number one position, while the Seriki is the second position. We are lucky because this is nearly 40 years conflict that is being resolved now and we thank God the community is coming to peaceful resolution of this. 

"For 40 years or thereabout now, the then Balogun passed on and a succession battle ensued. A lot of conflicts emerged from that succession battle and that ended up tearing up the Mopere institution apart. The Mopere breakup spilled over a lot of traditional institutions.

"It spilled over into the Muslim community, to the festivals. It affected the fabric of the town and to the glory of God, they now have the first opportunity where all the various Mopere now have unification and they agreed that they will have one Seriki, which happens to be me."

Hon. Adebutu, therefore, promised to unify all the traditional institutions in the town as part of his obligations as the new Seriki.