Ondo Community Gets Obaship Status After Decades Of Legal Tussle

By Ayodele Oni

After over a decade and prolonged legal tussle, the seat of Asin of Oka-Odo in Akoko area of Ondo state has been accorded obaship status on Grade C.

This is after 117 years of tussle as Sir Pius Omiyejola Akande was presented Staff and Instrument of Appointment as substantive traditional ruler.

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu made history as he presented Instrument and Staff of Office to Sir Pius Omiyejola Akande as the substantive Asin of Oka-Odo in Akoko south west local government.

The Governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Rural Development, Babatunde Kolawole, disclosed that the battle for recognition of the obaship status of the Asin seat, started when a paramountcy and supremacy tussle ensued between the Olubaka and Asin and the paramouncy was conferred on the Olubaka.

According to him, the Asin Obaship status had been accorded recognition during the defunct Western region, but was jettisoned due to the fight over supremacy between the Olubaka and the Asin.

The Governor added that after a long legal battle that was decided at the Supreme Court, the State government was ordered to implement the recommendation of the 1979 Justice Ogunleye Commission of inquiry which conferred an obaship status on the Asin seat.

“The State Executive Council immediately swung into action and approved the recognition of the Obaship status on the Asin of Oka-Odo on Grade C on the 4th of March.”

He congratulated the people of Oka-Odo for this great achievement.

The  Governor charged the new Oba to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship, be a father to all, limit his activities to his domain and make the development of Oka-Odo paramount in his pursuit.

He further enjoined the community to accord the monarch required cooperation, support and loyality needed to move the community forward.

Mr Akeredolu charged the oba to lend the government a helping hand in ensuring peace and security in his domain, while promising that government on its part, will continue to make life more meaningful and worthwhile for the people through the provision of basic social amenities and infrastructure.

In his address, the Chairman Akoko Southwest Local Government, Augustine Oloruntogbe appreciated the Governor for fulfiling his electioneering promise of recognising every chieftaincy stool that qualifies for recognition.

He appealed to the people to support the government as well as key into all its programmes, as a way of resiprocating its good gestures.

In his response, the Asin of Oka-Odo , Oba Pius Imiyejola Akande appreciated the Governor for fulfiling his promise to the people as well as counting Oka-Odo and consequently Akoko Southwest Local government, worthy of people oriented projects doting its landscape.

The monarch asked for more projects that will make life more meaningful for the people,  while pledging to live up to expectation, as well as foster peaceful coexistence with the people and other Obas in the Local Government.