The peaceful atmosphere of the historic Ile Ogunmola in Beere, Ibadan, has been unsettled by a brewing leadership tussle, as The Basorun Ogunmola Vanguard for Justice has officially petitioned the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, over the disputed selection of the next Mogaji.
In a petition dated April 10, 2026, written by their counsel M.S. Olaoye & Co., the family group urged the monarch to intervene in what they describe as a “fraudulent attempt” to bypass a 160-year-old rotational tradition.
According to the petition, the lineage of Basorun Ogunmola, who passed away in 1867, is split between his two sons: Osundina and Ilori. To maintain harmony, the family established a rotational headship. While the lineages originally held the Mogaji title for two terms each, a 1986 committee amendment revised this to a single-term rotation to ensure more frequent representation.
The Vanguard pointed out that the last two occupants—the late Baba Mogaji Olasupo Akanji (1988–2004) and the late Baba Mogaji Isaac Oyerinde Kongi (2004–2025)—both hailed from the Osundina lineage.
Consequently, the family argues that the stool must now pass to the Ilori lineage.
The crisis began following the opening of nominations in June 2025. On July 6, Dr. Temitope AbdulWahab Adebisi Ogunmola from the Ilori lineage was nominated. However, the petition alleged that Mr. Rafiu Laoye Kongi unilaterally declared the rotation abolished, seeking to install Samuel Imoleayo Kongi, another descendant of the Osundina line.
The petition further details a “screening committee” meeting held on August 3, 2025, which reportedly conducted a closed-door election without broad family notification, declaring Samuel Imoleayo the Mogaji-designate in the absence of Dr. Temitope and his supporters.
The “Basorun Ogunmola Vanguard for Justice”—claiming the support of 90% of the Ilori lineage and 55% of the Osundina lineage—staged three peaceful protests between August and December 2025 to oppose the selection.
The petition to the Olubadan was jointly signed by 37 prominent family members, including: Chief Saka Amole Ogunmola, Mr. Dauda Oyeleye Ogunmola, Alhaji Mutiu Ogunmola, Engr. Akeem Abiodun Ogunmola, Chief Imam Nurudeen Ogunmola, Mrs Mariam Ogunmola, Alhaji Waidi Ogunmola and Deaconess Risikat Adebisi Lawal, calling on the Olubadan to reject the imposition of a third consecutive Mogaji from the Osundina line and uphold the nomination of Dr. Temitope Adebisi Ogunmola to ensure justice and the preservation of Ibadan’s traditional values.
