How Ajede title tore Egba hunters into shrieds
By Moshood Adebayo, Abeokuta

Friday, April 16, 2010
Local hunters in Abeokuta, Ogun State,have taken up arms against themselves attacking one another in recent times. The bone of contention is the tussle over the title of Ajede.


[img]http://odili.net/news/source/2010/apr/16/sun/Afuape[1].gif[/img]
Afuape



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By Egba tradition, Ajede is a reverred title usually conferred on a courageous leader of hunters in the town. But rivalry between hunter factions over who bears the title has pitched members against one another.

Only recently Chief Afuape Adegboyega, 62, survived a gun attack, allegedly masterminded by those who were said to have opposed his selection as the Ajede.

If Afuape was lucky, the horse he was riding on the fateful day was not. The animal was killed by a gunshot allegedly fired by his opponents. Afuape is still reeling in shock over the incident.

The incident occured during Afuape’s inaugurtion as the new head of all the hunters in Abeokuta. Afuape is a hunter of repute with many years standing.

The attack came as a big surprise to the hunters, who assembled at the Nawarudden School, Abeokuta, with the knowledge of the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo.

Trouble started after Afuape who had been installed and decorated was riding triumphantly back home on a horse in company of his family members, wellwishers and members of the hunters association.

“Suddenly there were sporadic gunshots, forcing well wishers and members to scamper for safety. Guests who were still enjoying their foods and drinks abandoned them and ran for dear lives”, Mufutau Oseni, chairman, Abeokuta South Hunters Association, told Daily Sun.

Bullets fired pierced through the joyous gathering, hit the horse, and instantly the four-legged animal slumped and died. Afuape’s attackers allegedly confiscated the cap and other items bearing the insignia of the new hunter’s office, while Afuape miraculously disappeared from the scene.

“It was a miracle that Baba did not die, while he was trying to escape. The cap that the title was written on fell from his head and they picked it up and ran away with it. The horse that Baba was riding died of the gunshot wound. We took photographs of the horse and reported the incident to the police,” Oseni, a witness said.

Oseni said members of the faction he belongs were supposed to have inaugurated Afuape as the new Ajede and had proceeded to inform the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo for his consent: “But when we got to Alake’s palace, we met members of the rival hunters association who were already there to oppose the installation of Baba.

“By virtue of the fact that the title is in the working constitution of our group and coupled with the fact that it has been registered with Corporate Affairs Commission [CAC], we impressed upon the Alake that they were entitled to Ajede. The monarch objected, advising us instead to concede it to our rival group and change to Oloriode which we grudingly obliged.

“We are law abiding citizens, but we must tell you that we are not happy with the development. It amounts to cheating and that’s why we are appealing to relevant authorities to allow justice to prevail. We have equally contacted a lawyer who is assisting us to look at the legal aspect of what we desribed as great injustice meted out not only to Baba but also to the entire members ofthe Hunters Association, Egba zone.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, cautioned members of the public against taking law into their hands. Accoding to him, the state command is investigating the incident and anyone found guilty would be dealt with according to the law.

Nothing wey no be problem for Naija. People are killing each other over common title?