Olalekan Olakunle, the Asiwaju of Orile Imo, a community under the Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun State, has called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene on his alleged suspension in order to avert crisis in the community.
DAILY POST reports that the Olu of Orile Imo, Oba Oluwambe Sogaolu, announced Olakunle’s suspension in a letter signed by the Balogun of Orile Imo, Chief Isiaq Adesanya, on Monday.
The letter titled ‘Orile Imo Traditional Council Resolution’, dated August 12, 2025, revealed that the suspension followed gross misconduct, non-compliance and non recognition of the Orile Imo Land constituted authority.
Parts of the letter read, “At a meeting of the Orile Imo Traditional Council of chiefs held on Tuesday 12th August, 2025, in a unanimous decision, the meeting resolves as follows; that Chief Olakunle Olalekan is hereby suspended indefinitely as Asiwaju of Orile imo land with effect from Tuesday 12th August, 2025 due to gross misconduct and non-compliance and recognition of the Orile Imo Land constituted authority the actions which is unbecoming of a chief in our land.
“During the suspension period, Chief Olakunle Olalekan is strictly prohibited from representing or parading himself as Asiwaju of Orile Imo or taking actions that may be perceived as acting in that capacity.”
However, reacting to the development, Olakunle insisted that the Oba lacked the power to suspend him.
Olakunle, who spoke on Tuesday while addressing newsmen, noted that the issue was still in court.
He asserted that he remained the elected Asiwaju and chairman of the Baale of the council, and appealed to Governor Abiodun to intervene in the issue to avert crisis.
“The governor of Ogun State is a prince. He knows the rules, regulation and custom. And I believe nobody can just sit down somewhere and say I’ve suspended somebody. It’s never done anywhere.
“I’m just appealing to the Governor of Ogun State. As usual, he’s the man of the people.
We don’t want crisis in Orile Imo. To avoid crisis, let Oba Oluwambe Shogaolu stay off saying he has suspended me.
“He has no power to suspend me, I appeal to the Governor of Ogun State to come to our aid and support the progress of Orile Imo,” he said.
Also speaking, the Baale of Kajola, Ayinde Gbadamosi, lamented that the method used by the monarch to suspend Olakunle was not the right way and urged him to follow the normal procedure for peace and progress to thrive in the community.
Similarly, the community youth leader, Jimoh Olorunsogo, disclosed that Olakunle was bearing the Asiwaju title before the advent of Sogaolu, adding that since he is yet to be declared the authentic Oba by the court, he has no legal right to suspend Chief Olalekan as Asiwaju.
