Ondo Residents Demand Say In Leadership Amid Prince’s Proposed Installation

Ondo Residents Demand Say In Leadership Amid Prince’s Proposed Installation

Residents of Ode Irele, the headquarters of Irele Local Government Area in Ondo State, protested on Thursday against an alleged attempt by the state government to impose a prince as their new monarch…….. CONTINUE READING

The throne has been vacant since the death of the Late Oba Olanrewaju Lebi in January 1993, and the dispute over his successor remains unresolved. The demonstrators assembled in front of the state High Court in Okitipupa, chanting solidarity songs and calling on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ensure that the selection and appointment of the new monarch adhere to proper procedures.

The protesters carried placards with messages such as “Irele people demand justice,” “Give Irele people justice,” and “Attorney General cannot protect the law of the state.”

Solomon Idowu, a leader of the protest, stated that the demonstration was to ensure justice in the chieftaincy matter. He recounted an incident where an individual had unlawfully declared himself king years ago, leading to a court case. Idowu claimed that this individual had now allegedly attempted to bypass due process by seeking the Governor’s intervention to have the case dismissed. “We oppose any such imposition,” Idowu declared. “The law must take its course.”

Another protester, Odunsanmi Morebise, accused some community leaders of attempting to undermine the selection process and insisted that ancestral traditions would not support any imposition. He urged the state government to allow the kingmakers to follow due process.

In response, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Amidu Takuro, denied any plans to impose a kingship candidate. He stated, “I am not aware of any attempt to impose a candidate on any community. Each community has its own rules for handling chieftaincy matters, and the government does not interfere. We ensure that all procedures are followed in selecting and appointing obaship candidates.”