Ijesa diaspora group rejects Owa’s dissolution order, elects new leader

In a decisive move, the mainstream faction of the National Council of Egbe Omo Obokun Ijesaland (USA & Canada) has resolved to continue its operations and has appointed Prince Samuel Babalola as its new National Chairman.

This decision comes in direct response to a recent royal decree from their homeland monarch, the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III, which ordered the Council’s dissolution for three years.

The group, comprising eight chapter presidents and several former chairmen, stated that the monarch’s order was an “unexpected and distressing blow” after they had made significant concessions to foster peace within the diaspora organization.

The crisis stems from a nearly four-year leadership dispute between the mainstream council and a breakaway faction. In a bid to resolve the conflict, Oba Ajimoko III intervened, establishing a committee and initially ordering a general election for a new executive body.

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According to the mainstream group, they accepted this election directive despite it contradicting their constitution’s rotational system. The election, scheduled for October 5, was set to feature Prince Samuel Babalola of Chicago and Engineer Ayo Odeyemi of the breakaway group as contenders for Chairman.

Prince Samuel Babalola

However, the situation escalated just days before the vote. The group claims a petition from a committee member, Apostle John Adejuyigbe, led the Owa to issue a new royal decree. This decree canceled the election, unilaterally appointed Prince Babalola as Chairman and Apostle Adejuyigbe as Vice Chairman, and requested the other candidates step down.

The mainstream faction states that while they accepted this decree out of respect for the throne, Apostle Adejuyigbe publicly refused his appointed role the following day. Shortly after this refusal, the Owa issued the letter suspending the entire Council for three years.

“We feel disempowered, frustrated, and unjustly treated,” the group wrote in their response to the monarch. They argued that they had complied with all previous directives to accommodate the breakaway group, only to be met with what they see as an unfair dissolution.

In their resolution, the mainstream chapters have chosen to revert to their original rotational structure. They have installed Prince Samuel Babalola, the current President of the Chicago Chapter, as the new National Chairman and have allocated other executive offices to chapters within the mainstream.

The group emphasized that the primary role of the National Council is to coordinate the activities of its North American chapters and foster unity among Ijesas in the diaspora, with support for homeland development being a secondary goal.

They also extended an olive branch, leaving the door open for the breakaway chapters to rejoin the council. The statement reiterated their “total loyalty” to Oba Ajimoko III while firmly asserting their right to self-governance for the welfare of their members in North America.

The resolution was signed by the presidents of the Chicago, California, Baltimore/Washington, Indianapolis, Dallas, Atlanta, and Michigan chapters, as well as the coordinator of the Calgary, Canada chapter, and four former National Chairmen.