The Ondo Amananawei stool crisis worsens as Atike and Kekemeke families trade accusations, prompting calls for state intervention to avert unrest.
The lingering tussle over the Amananawei stool in Agadagba-Obon, Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, has deepened, stirring anxiety among indigenes as two powerful families, the Atike and Kekemeke clans, continue to exchange sharp accusations.
What began as a dispute over succession rights has now escalated into open petitions, threats of violence, and appeals for government intervention.
With September 15 fixed as the date for the contested stool selection, tension in the riverine Ijaw-speaking community is nearing a boiling point.
On Friday, the Atike family issued a statement in Akure through its spokesperson, Ofoyeju Gbinmoye Medek, warning against what it described as an attempt by the Kekemeke family to unilaterally impose a traditional ruler despite a pending court case.
“As a strong stakeholder in Agadagba-Obon, the decision of the Kekemeke family to single-handedly select and install the Amananawei is a brazen embarrassment to the John Atike family,” Ofoyeju declared.
Describing the move as “strange, selfish and non-inclusive,” he said it undermined peace in the community.
He also alleged that the rival clan was relying on political and judicial influence while ignoring peace efforts led by the Agadagba of Arogbo kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Pere Doubra Zacchaeus Egbunu, Opukutu III.
The Atike family further claimed that the Ondo State Government had done little to reconcile the factions, despite being aware of the dispute.
“Instead of intervention, the Kekemeke family has obtained approval to proceed with the selection process while the matter is still before the court. We smell a rat,” the statement added.
The family also alleged a plot to attack its members before the scheduled September 15 selection, warning that it would resist provocation and hold the authorities accountable should violence erupt.
In a counter-petition to the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, the Kekemeke Royal Family accused members of the Atike clan of masterminding violence on September 2, when the selection exercise began at the Atimati Family House.
Through their counsel, Oju Kekemeke, they alleged attempted murder, assault, wilful destruction of property and criminal trespass.
The petition named thugs allegedly loyal to the Atike family, claiming they stormed the venue and attacked key family members.
Among the alleged targets were Hon. Justice U.P. Kekemeke, High Chief Richard Kekemeke, and Prince Beligha Kekemeke.
The petition stated that Justice Kekemeke, who presided as Head of the Ruling House, narrowly escaped death.
“It took spirited efforts of his Police Orderly and two other Policemen to save his life. Even then, he was dispossessed of his iPad containing critical judicial documents,” the petition read.
The Kekemeke family stressed that the attack happened despite the presence of police and DSS operatives, which they said caused panic and disrupted what was meant to be a lawful, government-backed process.
They urged the police to conduct a full-scale investigation, pledging to provide evidence and cooperate fully with security agencies.
The Amananawei stool is more than a ceremonial throne; in Ijaw tradition, it is both a cultural and political institution.
The occupant serves as a custodian of heritage, a symbol of unity, and an influential figure in local governance.
This dual significance has heightened the contest between the two families, both of whom insist they have legitimate claims to the stool.
Observers warn that the fierce struggle, if not quickly contained, could plunge Agadagba-Obon into unrest.
With accusations of thuggery, political interference and disregard for court processes, community leaders fear that reconciliation is drifting further away.
Stakeholders, including youth leaders and elders, have appealed to the Ondo State Government to act swiftly.
They argue that allowing the dispute to escalate could destabilize not just Agadagba-Obon but other parts of Ese-Odo where inter-family rivalries often spill into communal clashes.
As September 15 draws closer, all eyes are on the state government and security agencies.
The Atike family insists that no credible process can take place until the courts deliver judgment, while the Kekemeke family maintains that tradition mandates them to proceed.
For now, the Ondo Amananawei stool crisis remains a ticking time bomb, with both families standing their ground and the community caught in the middle.