Traditional rulers move against Deji of Akure

Four traditional rulers in the Akure North Local Government of Ondo State have protested an alleged illegal moves being made by the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, to control their area, which they claimed, are not under his jurisdiction.


The monarchs: the Okiti of Iju, the Alayede of Ayede-Ogbese, the Ogbolu of Ita-Ogbolu and the Oloba of Oba-Ile, have therefore, petitioned the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and the state police command over the development.


In their separate letters, the monarchs alleged that Oba Adesida had been upgrading lesser chiefs within their domains to the status of an Oba contrary to the law and tradition of the land.



Efforts by our correspondent to get an official reaction from Oba Adesida were futile as calls made to his mobile phone were not answered.


A source at his palace, who would not want his name in print, however said, “The chiefs got it all wrong. They are only crying wolf where there was none. From time immemorial, the Deji has been the paramount ruler of all Akure-speaking people.


“These people cannot change history. Let them go and find out from the older generation in their various domains. They will be told that the Deji is the most important Oba in this part of the country and nobody can change that historical fact.”


But the traditional rulers in their letter to the governor, lamented that Obas in the Akure North Local Government areas were constantly being molested and disturbed in their jurisdiction by the Deji.


They noted that the matter was getting to an unbearable level and insisted that the area of traditional authority of the Deji could not extend outside the Akure South Local Government areas.


They said, “Since the creation of both Akure North and Ifedore councils, all Obas in those areas have ceased to be under the influence of the Deji.”


The monarchs argued that the Akure monarch was wrong to have written a letter to the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, requesting the upgrading of some traditional chiefs in their own areas to the status of Oba.


They claimed that the moves by the Deji to upgrade the Olu of Ibafon, Olu of Ago Dauda and the Obatogun of Igoba, were wrong, contending that Oba Adesida had no authority to upgrade the chiefs as they were not located within Akure South council.


They said since Nigeria was no longer under the colonial administration when paramount rulers exercised jurisdiction on provincial areas, “the Deji of Akure should not trivialise the Constitution.”

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Linkedin
• Pinterest

Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday


Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users

You Might Also Like

« PREV

NEXT »