Ondo Communities Clamour For Autonomy; Govt Downsizes Power Of Akure Monarch |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government has reduced the paramouncy of the Traditional Ruler of Akure, Deji, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, restricting his authority to his domain alone.

Before, the Deji of Akure is regarded as a Paramount Ruler with his power spread across all farmsteads founded by indigenes in Akure South and North areas.

But following the creation of Ondo State in 1976, and Ekiti State from Ondo in 1996, a new Local Council, Akure North, was carved out of the former Akure Local Government.

Virtually, all farmsteads hitherto under Akure and jurisdiction of Deji now fall under Akure North.

The Paramount Ruler of Akure has been exercising his power over the farmsteads, some of which have become full fledged towns and villages, including installing their Olus and Baales.

However, in their bid to be self independent from the authority of Akure ruler, some of the lesser Chiefs, known as Olus and Baales have been calling on the State Government to upgrade their status to that of an Oba.

A letter dated 19th April, 2021, has now answered the prayers of the lesser Chiefs as the State Government has directed the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Adetoyinbo, to hands off from installing Olus and Baales in some villages in Akure North Local Government Area.

The letter signed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Segun Odunsoya, advised Oba Aladetoyinbo to stay away and maintain status quo over the appointment of minor Chiefs in some of the Communities.

The Communities include Ago Sonibare in Ala/Ajagbusi, Eleyewo, Ago-Ajapada in Ofosu Forest, Ago Tedibomi in Ala/Ajagbusi, Agunla I’m Ayede-Ogbese, Ilado/Elemo and Isinigbo, all in Akure North Local Government Area.

The affected Olus and Baales have, through their lawyer, appealed to the State Government to upgrade their status to full fledged Obas to enable them have control over their subjects.

The letter, signed by Mr Femi Emodamori,

emphasised the need to “upgrade the Olus and Baales in the duly recognized communities in Akure North Local Government Area to the status of Obas, even if they are categorized in the least grade of recognized Chiefs, just as the State Government had successfully done in all the Communities now in Ifedore Local Government Area which were formerly part of the old Akure Local Government.

“By so doing, the Community heads to be recognized as Obas would automatically become the Prescribed Authority for the appointment of minor Chiefs in their respective Communities, in line with paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Ondo State Government White Paper on Morgan Chieftaincy Review Commission of July, 1981.

“Fortunately, the Recognized Chiefs or Obas in Akure North Local Government are fully in support of these suggested measures in the overall interest of peace, and their position in that regard was evident during the public hearings of the Ajama Commission of Enquiry (and) The upgrading of some or any of the Recognized Chiefs or Obas in Akure North Local Government to First Class or category “A” Oba(s).”