The Olugbesan Descendant Union has cleared a former deputy governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, of alleged wrong doings.
Some people that claimed to be members of the Labisi/Durosomo wing of the Olugbesan Family, Oke-Agbeni, Ibadan, had reportedly written a petition to the Olubadan of Ibadan, demanding for the removal of Gbolarumi as the Mogaji of the Olugbesan Family.
As contained in the petition to the Olubadan, they accused the former deputy governor of “engaging in actions capable of damaging the reputation, unity and peaceful coexistence among members of Olugbesan Family.”
They claimed that the actions of the former deputy governor were capable of damaging the reputation, unity and co-existence of the family.
The petition, titled “Request To Withdraw Mogaji Appointment In Hazeem Gbolarumi (sic)”, was reportedly aired on an Ibadan-based private radio station and also published on the social media.
The petition was signed by Alhaji Lukman Durosomo Olugbesan, Tunbosun Durosomo Olugbesan, Chief Taofeek Olugbesan, Akibu Durosomo Olugbesan, Labisi Olumide Olugbesan, Sunkanmi Labisi Olugbesan and Monsura Olugbesan.
The petition reads: “For your information sir, since his appointment as Mogaji Olugbesan Family in 2008, he has used the position to acquire family properties for his personal use and also caused division among family members who have become enemies to one another today.
“Sir, it is on record that he was made the mogaji of our family based on the belief of few elders in the family that he could use his position as former deputy governor to promote peace, unity and development of the family, but unfortunately it is personal ambition of coveting the family’s property that he has championed.”
However, the Olugbesan Descendant Union, in a rejoinder, dated 20 February, 2024, described the allegations as mere misinformation and total falsehood.
This was as two of the people who were said to be signatories to the petition to the Olubadan, US-based Labisi Olumide Olugbesan and Lookman Lasunkanmi Olugbesan, disassociated themselves from the petition.
The Olugbesan Descendant Union described the petitioners as usurpers who were not known to the majority members of Olugbesan Family, adding that their claims were nothing but a misconception.
The rejoinder, by the Olugbesan Descendant Union, was titled “On The Misinformation and false allegations leveled against Mogaji Hazeem Gbolarumi Olugbesan”.
Listed as members of the Union were Chief Dauda Olayiwola Olugbesan (Baale Agbole Olugbesan), Suleiman Okunola Olugbesan (Secretary), Alabi Labisi Olugbesan, Teslym Abioye Olugbesan, Lukmon Adepoju Olugbesan, Alfa Amodu Oyedeji Olugbesan, Hamed Oyewusi Olugbesan and Isiaka Akinngun (molari) Olugbesan.
The Olugbesan Descendant Union stated in the rejoinder, signed by its secretary, that Gbolarumi was never involved in acts that were capable of of damaging the reputation, unity and co-existence of the family.
“We hereby use this medium to thank the Lagelu [Radio] team for a thoughtful reportage by (sic) a set of people claiming to be members of the Labisi/Durosomo wing of the Olugbesan Family, Oke-Agbeni, Ibadan.
“To our utmost surprise, we read on social media a report by certain set of faceless individuals and also on Lagelu FM 96.7 today, 20 February, 2024, claiming to have petitioned the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, seeking the removal of Mogaji Hazeem Gbolarumi as the Mogaji Olugbesan Family.
“[They were] also claiming that the actions of Mogaji Hazeem Gbolarumi are capable of damaging the reputation, unity and co-existence of the family. These are all false allegations and a misconception, if there is any at all.
“Permit us to say categorically that these set of usurpers are not known to majority members of family and also that their claims are false.
“We, the true sons and daughters of Olugbesan home and abroad, hereby wish to state we are solidly behind and in support of the leadership of our Mogaji, Hazeem. A. Gbolarumi, Mogaji Olugbesan,” the Olugbesan Descendant Union stated in the rejoinder.
Similarly, Olumide Labisi Olugbesan stated in a short statement that neither he nor his brother, Lookman Lasunkanmi Olugbesan, knew anything about the petition against the former deputy governor.
He stated: “A friend of mine, based in Ibadan, forwarded the above [the petition] to me. He even said that they included my name among people that wrote the petition for which I have never being a part of the meeting where the decision was taken talk less of including my name among the signatories.
“I wish to reiterate for the knowledge of all members of the family that I, Olumide Labisi Olugbesan and my brother, Lookman Lasunkanmi Labisi Olugbesan, are not parties to this frivolous petition and hereby disassociate ourselves from the so-called signatories. Please let us be guided and do the right thing.”
