By Elijah Ade
Family heritage and chieftaincy titles, no doubt carries prestige and also command respect in many parts of Nigeria, and this obviously is one of the reasons many wealthy people usually pay huge amounts of money to kingmakers to get chieftaincy titles; but for one Ogunyemi Isiaka Ola, this is not a good time, as he has been entangled with a chieftaincy title dispute that nearly claim his life recently.
It was gathered that Ogunyemi Isiaka Ola, at 32, was honoured by his father who passed down the title of “Balogun of Fowawo”, a highly respected title in their community, known as Isofin Fowawo, in Ogun State, South –West Nigeria.
According to sources, while the title was a huge feat for Isiaka Ola, it unfortunately became a source of contention within his family, as one of his uncles, identified as Ogunyemi Rasheed believed that the title should have been his and his resentment quickly turned into hostility, poisoning family relationships and creating tension within the community.
It was gathered that the dispute began with verbal attacks and baseless accusations, as his uncle Rasheed was spreading rumors, claiming that Isiaka Ola was a cursed person and unfit for the title.
Although Isiaka Ola tried to ignore his uncle’s actions, trusting in the wisdom of the king of the community, Oba Rasaki Jimoh Famuyiwa, and the Baale, Ogunyemi Kabiru, to maintain peace; uncle Rasheed jealousy eventually escalated into violence.
It was gathered that uncle Rasheed orchestrated an attack against Ola on April 28, 2023, where Isiaka Ola was ambushed by his uncle Rasheed in connivance with other boys.
Sources said Isiaka Ola was brutally beaten, and left with severe injuries, including a head wound that was stitched. It was gathered that when he reported the assault to the relevant authorities, it was dismissed and viewed as a ‘family matter’ which left him vulnerable.
It was gathered that the matter degenerated on June 15, 2023, when uncle Rasheed allegedly sent assassins to eliminate Ola but he narrowly escaped.
Although Isiaka Ola later ran away from the community with his wife and children shortly after his coronation in September, 2024, yet another attack was lunched against him, a development that furthered established his vulnerability.
Although Ogunyemi Isiaka Ola coronation as the “Balogun of Fowawo” took place against all odds in September 2024, as of the time of this report, nobody could ascertain his whereabouts.
