Tension is rising in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, moves to enforce an Appeal Court judgment. The judgment declares the Iralepo of Isikan a Quarter Chief in Akure, stripping the position of its previous Class C monarch status, which was granted under former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration.
The Appeal Court’s judgment has further complicated the situation, and its implementation may lead to a communal crisis in Akure.
The controversy began after the passing of the late Iralepo of Isikan, High Chief Olu Ojo. The Akure monarch appointed Chief Henry Gbenga as the next Iralepo, exercising his authority to appoint minor chiefs. However, the Omowa Isikan (kingmakers) chose Prince Olugbenga Ojo and installed him as the Oba, creating a power struggle.
In 2022, the Ondo State government released a White Paper, recognizing the Iralepo stool as a Class C Oba. However, the Court of Appeal later ruled that it was unlawful to include the Iralepo chieftaincy title in Part 1 of the Chiefs Laws of Ondo State as a recognized chief, specifically with the consent of the Deji of Akure.
A recent court ruling has sparked a complex situation in Akure, Ondo State. The court granted a perpetual injunction, preventing the Ondo State Government from appointing or installing anyone as the Iralepo of Isikan Quarters.
In response, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo, swiftly ordered the suspension of Gbenga Ojo as the Iralepo of Isikan, warning him not to present himself as the monarch in any capacity. The Deji then announced the appointment of Adeyeye as the new Iralepo of Isikan Quarters in Akure.
However, Prince Olugbenga Ojo has claimed that his selection as Iralepo followed due process, with officials from Akure South Local Government witnessing his selection. He has begun his traditional rites and has been recognized by the community as the authentic monarch.
The situation has become increasingly contentious, with the Deji’s spokesman, Michael Adeyeye, describing Ojo’s actions as “a comedy taken too far”. Meanwhile, Ojo has urged the people of Isinkan not to be distracted by the Deji’s actions, emphasizing that his traditional rites have commenced, and he remains the authentic monarch.