ABEOKUTA — The Kémta Ògbóni House in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has been sealed following a deepening internal crisis within the Kémta Council of Chiefs. The closure follows a contentious disagreement among traditional stakeholders regarding the maternal heritage of Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as “YAYI.”
The controversy has reportedly resulted in the suspension of the Oluwo of Kémta, Chief Abayomi Rotimi. While official details regarding the sanction remain sparse, sources indicate that the suspension is a direct fallout of the escalating tension over the Senator’s alleged maternal links to the Kémta community.
A Community Divided
The dispute centers on conflicting narratives surrounding Senator Adeola’s roots. Proponents of his connection, led by figures such as Chief Anipupo, the Baale of Kémta Odutolu, have previously presented the Senator to the Aláké of Ẹgbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, as a “son of the soil” whose late mother hailed from Kémta Odutolu in Itoku. This endorsement was recently marked by a celebratory homecoming reception in the community.
However, the assertion has faced stiff opposition from other indigenous stakeholders and traditional chiefs who have questioned the veracity of these claims. Critics argue that the narrative is politically motivated, surfacing primarily as the 2027 governorship race intensifies.
Intervention by the Palace
An anonymous source familiar with the situation confirmed that the Aláké of Ẹgbaland intervened in the matter, ordering the immediate closure of the Ògbóni House. The move is reportedly intended to curb further hostility among the chiefs and provide a cooling-off period for elders to resolve the impasse behind closed doors.
Broader Political Context
This latest crisis in Kémta is part of a wider, ongoing debate regarding Senator Adeola’s political identity in Ogun State. For years, the Senator has faced allegations from various groups—most notably the Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders—challenging his indigene status and questioning his historical commitment to the state.
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Supporters of the Senator, represented by groups like the “Yayi Intellectuals Forum,” have dismissed these challenges as “politically motivated campaigns” orchestrated by opponents who lack viable policy alternatives ahead of the 2027 polls. They maintain that traditional institutions in both Yewaland and Egbaland have already formally acknowledged the Senator’s ancestral roots.
As of the time of filing this report, residents and stakeholders remain in a state of uncertainty, awaiting an official resolution from the palace regarding the status of the suspended Oluwo and the reopening of the Ògbóni House.
