Tension In Akure As Deji Moves To Enforce Court Ruling Against Monarch

As the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, attempts to carry out an Appeal Court ruling that proclaimed the Iralepo of Isikan to be a Quarter Chief in Akure, a communal conflict is imminent in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.

During the reign of the late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Iralepo was promoted to a Class C monarch.

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Based on his authority to name subordinate chiefs in the Akure kingdom, the Akure monarch named Chief Henry Gbenga as the next Iralepo in line after the death of High Chief Olu Ojo, the Iralepo of Isikan. However, Prince Olugbenga Ojo, chosen by the Omowa Isikan (kingmakers), was crowned Oba.

The state government acknowledged Iralepo stool as a Class C Oba in a White Paper published in 2022.

However, with the approval of the Deji of Akure, the Court of Appeal ruled that it was illegal to include Iralepo’s chieftaincy title as a recognized chief in Part 1 of the Chiefs Laws of Ondo State.
A permanent injunction prohibiting the Ondo State Government from designating or installing anyone as the Iralepo of Isikan Quarters was also issued.

The Deji of Akure suspended Ojo as the Iralepo of Isikan immediately and warned him not to flaunt himself in any way less than 48 hours following the court’s decision.

Adeyeye was named the new Iralepo of Isikan Quarters, Akure, by Oba Aladetoyinbo.

According to a statement from Michael Adeyeye, the Akure monarch’s spokesperson, Ojo was asked to leave the Iralepo of Isikan’s traditional palace immediately and turn over all palace goods in his hands to the relevant authorities for the necessary paperwork.

The statement states that “Mr. Gbenga Ojo is advised to refrain from parading himself in any manner, as High Chief Gbenga Henry Adeyeye has been appointed and installed as the new Iralepo of Isikan quarters, and he is now entitled to wear all paraphernalia of office attached to the stool of the Iralepo of Isikan.”

“We want to let Mr. Ojo know that there will be harsher consequences, including committal proceedings, for any violation of the aforementioned.”

In front of the Omowa of Isikan, Oba Aladetoyinbo then gave the new Iralepo his certificate.

Chief Kayode Oluyi, the Olisa of Isikan, asserted that the ancient throne of Iralepo was not a play fit for a children’s theater.

He claimed that the Deji of Akure had never approved of or appointed the Iralepo of Isinkan; rather, the Isinkan people had done so.

“We beg our people to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and refrain from any actions or involvement that would depict the great peace-loving Isinkan people as rude, rabble-rousing bumpkins.” We want to reassure everyone that the throne of the Iralepo of Isinkan is not vacant, as Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula (Arulewolasi III), the Olusi Obarisa, still holds the throne and resides in the palace of the Iralepo of Isinkan, even as we take due cognizance of the Court of Appeal’s ruling and exercise our additional rights in that regard under the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution.

According to Ayodeji Fatoki, the Olu of Aladodo, Deji had never put in or taken out any Iralepo of Isinkan.

“Deji wants to cause a crisis in the state capital,” he claimed.