Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has approved the suspension of the traditional ruler of Ido town, Oba Gbolagade Babalola (Gbadewolu I), as the Onido of Ido. The suspension, effective February 1, 2024, was officially communicated in a letter dated February 2, 2024, signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola.
The announcement, made on Friday, did not provide specific reasons for the suspension or indicate its duration. However, Oba Gbolagade Babalola has been directed to hand over all government property in his possession to the chairman of the local government.
The statement read, “I wish to inform you that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State of Nigeria, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sub-section 1&2 of Section 26 of the Chiefs Law, Cap. 28 Vol I, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000 and by virtue of all other enabling powers in that regard, has approved your suspension as the Onido of Ido in the area of authority of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State.”
This suspension comes after a history of disputes involving Oba Gbolagade Babalola. In 2018, he engaged in a disagreement with the deposed Baale Tajudeen Agura, who claimed legitimacy as the Onido of Ido based on his Agura lineage. In response, Oba Babalola argued that his great-grandfather’s appointment of the first Agura as Baale of Ido was rooted in their longstanding friendship.
