Ipokia Local Government has intervened decisively in a lingering Baaleship tussle in Shasha Oke-Iwo community, Ifonyintedo Ward, following rising tension and fears of a possible breakdown of law and order.
The intervention came after a delegation of elders and indigenes of Shasha Oke-Iwo paid a formal visit to the Ipokia Local Government Secretariat to lodge complaints over recent developments surrounding the leadership of the community. The delegation was led by respected community elders, including Baba Zacheous Fadeyi, Mr. Fayomi Joseph and Mr. Abraham Fadeyi, alongside two other elders. They were accompanied by the Councillor representing Ifonyintedo Ward and Leader of the Ipokia Legislative Council, Hon. Adeyanju Akeem.
Briefing the council leadership, the elders explained that the Baaleship dispute is an age-long issue involving the Onitoro, Oba Fasina Nathaniel Elegbede of Yewa South, and the Olu of Ifonyintedo. According to them, the disagreement had, at a point in history, resulted in the installation of two Baales in Shasha Oke-Iwo—one appointed by the Onitoro and the other by the late Olu of Ifonyintedo. With the subsequent demise of both Baales, the community has remained without a traditional head.
The elders raised alarm over what they described as a fresh attempt by the Onitoro to forcefully install a Baale in Shasha Oke-Iwo, a community they emphasized falls squarely within Ipokia Local Government and under the prescribed traditional authority of the Olu of Ifonyintedo. They warned that such a move could spark unrest if not urgently addressed by government.
In response, Ipokia Local Government swung into action immediately by engaging relevant security agencies and formally notifying them of the situation. The council also initiated diplomatic efforts to reach out to the monarch involved, urging him to refrain from actions capable of igniting crisis along the boundary areas between Ipokia Local Government and Yewa South, particularly within the Ifonyintedo axis, which the council stressed does not fall under his jurisdiction.
The council was further briefed on a similar development at Akinde village, also under Ifonyintedo Ward, where there are alleged attempts to forcefully take over community land said to be outside the king’s recognized domain.
Assuring the delegations from Shasha Oke-Iwo and Akinde villages, the local government leadership stated that their complaints had been carefully listened to and noted. The council reaffirmed its firm position that Ipokia Local Government would not cede any portion of its land to any other local government under any guise.
It was also disclosed that relevant government agencies would be fully informed of the situation, while the matter would be escalated through the Yewa Traditional Council to ensure that the monarch involved is appropriately cautioned to exercise his authority strictly within his legally recognized domain.
Ipokia Local Government reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property and assured the people of Shasha Oke-Iwo, Akinde and the entire Ifonyintedo Ward of its continued support to ensure peace, stability and harmonious coexistence across all communities.
