Ogun: Agura stool will be filled in the next one month – Balogun Iddo
Balogun Iddo, Chief Ayodele Koleade, has said that the vacant Agura of Gbagura stool will be filled in the next one month, addding that all arrangements and processes will be completed in May, 2025 in order to begin the crowning of a new monarch from Jiboso Ruling House.
It will be recalled that Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre, Jamolu II, the 9th Agura of Gbaguraland, who was picked from the second Ruling House, Egiri Ruling House of Agura, died in June, 2023 and since then the Agura of Gbagura’s stool has been vacant.
Gbagura is one of the four main Regions of Egbaland that cuts across six local government areas, forming Ogun Central Senatorial District- Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Ifo, Obafemi-Owode, Ewekoro and Odeda – with the Alake of Egbaland, heading the Ake Section; the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, manning the Oke-Ona Section; Agura of Gbagura reigning over the Gbagura Section and Olowu of Owu, heading the Owu Section.
Speaking at the Gbagura Youth Development Council (GYDC) meeting led by Alhaji Mubasir Nafiu, GYDC Chairman, and hosted by Adedapo Semiu, Chairman, Iddo Youth Council at Oba Agura Square, Oke-Iddo, Abeokuta on Sunday, Chief Koleade identified some challenges that are causing delay in the selection and election of the new Agura of Gbagura.
The retired Permanent Secretary in the Ogun State Civil Service noted that “We are lucky to have had Oluwasina Ogungbade SAN, the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commssioner for Justice, who is Gbagura man from Ikereku- Idan; we have Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, an Owu man as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs and several of our sons and daughters in Abeokuta North Local Government. What are we waiting for?
“Although, we have some challenges that caused little delay, that can’t stop us, we are going to have new Agura in the next one month. I can only appeal to all of us (Gbaguras) to be patient and, bow down in prayer to the God Almighty to help us in the process of making the new Agura. If that is done, God will answer our prayers and we will have new monarch in place as soon as possible”, Balogun Iddo said in company of Chief Shuaibu Alasopupo, Baada Iddo and Chief Mukaila Akindele, Ekerin Iddo.
Earlier, the Baada of Iddo, Chief Shuaibu Alasopupo, noted that the delay associated with the selection and election of new Agura of Gbagura was caused by a ploy to disown late Agura of Gbagura, Oba Babajide Saburee Bakre, as not of royalty.
The Baada of Iddo, however, assured the sons and daughters of Gbagura Nation that the Iddo Chiefs, who are the Consenting Authority and Kingmakers, would elect the New Agura after the family selection process from the Jiboso Ruling House.
Also, one.of the Princes from Jiboso Ruling House, Prince Razaq Adesanya Ayinla from Lupoju-Lugboso Royal Family from Iddo-Oba II, Idi-Osun, the Gbagura Settlement at Itoko in Abeokuta South Local Government, who was called upon to make closing remarks, assured the people of Gbagura and Egbaland that the selection of new Agura of Gbagura by Jiboso Ruling House would start soon in order to work towards a month period given by Kingmakers.
He recalled that several past Agura of Gbagura from Oba Raufu Adeosun, Oba Halidu Olaloko, Sobekun II to Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre, Jamolu II, the Agura of Gbagura, was always crowned during the Muslim Ileya festival (Eid Al Adha) and the incoming Agura would not be different.
“I was told that our forebears, the late Aguras, from Oba Raufu Adeosun, Oba Halidu Olaloko to immediate past Oba Saburee Bakre, they either entered Ipebi (Royal Seclusion) or was crowned before, during or immediately after the Ileya festival.
“Today, Sunday 27th April, 2025, we are less than two months to Ileya festival and our Iddo Council of Chiefs being led by Chief Ayodele Koleade, the Balogun of Iddo, who are the real Kingmakers, have given us their words that we are going to have new Agura of Gbagura in a month’s time. So, let’s all work towards the time and pray that so shall it be”, Prince Ayinla noted.
