The peaceful inauguration of Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as the elected governor of Ondo State has been attributed to divine intervention and the governor’s good intentions, according to several anonymous sources. These individuals, who spoke to our reporters across the ancient autonomous and recently recognized kingdom communities in Akure North, Akure South, and Ifedore Local Government Areas on Monday, claimed that a major crisis was narrowly averted.
By Kemi Kasumu and our reporters
According to them, the inauguration could have been disrupted by a plot orchestrated on Sunday by the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo. The monarch allegedly attempted to install his self-appointed Chief Iralepo of Isinkan in the palace of the Oba Iralepo of Isinkan—a throne that is not vacant, as it is currently occupied by His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barrister) Oluwagbemiga Ojo Olofin-Adimula.
The Deji’s plan reportedly failed when he realized that aggrieved residents of Isinkan, alongside sympathizers from neighboring kingdoms—including Isolo (Akure South), Osi and Oba Ile (Akure North), and Ilara-Mokin and Igbara-Oke (Ifedore)—had mobilized in Ita Owa, the palace of the Iralepo of Isinkan, in solidarity with the sitting monarch.
“Deji’s boys are threatening Obas”
An angered sympathizer, who wished to remain anonymous, alleged:
“One of the Deji’s men, I don’t know his name, deliberately called an Oba, telling him ‘Iwo l’okan’—meaning ‘It is your turn.’ He said, ‘You better go and beg the Deji now because you’re next after the Iralepo of Isinkan.’
“He is the one the Deji is using to intimidate all the Obas in Akure North, Akure South, and Ifedore. He told the Oba of Osi, ‘It is your turn.’ Things should not degenerate to this level. They have turned this hooliganism into Akure royalty culture.”
The source further alleged that some individuals close to the Deji were boasting about using the courts to suppress Obas of Akure-speaking communities.
“From the way his men talk, especially his so-called Chief Press Secretary and another guy whose mother is from Isolo but now works against his mother’s town, it is clear that the Deji plans to use the courts to ‘colonize’ all Obas junior to him in their respective communities.”
He recounted an instance where one of the Deji’s aides allegedly slipped up, saying:
“You need to know that we have the power to get anything we want in court. That is how we will colonize you, just like Queen Elizabeth colonized Nigeria and Africa.”
Court allegations & rumours of influence
When asked about allegations that Deji had a lobbyist influencing court rulings in his favour, the source responded:
“That’s what people say, but I won’t hold it against any judge without evidence. However, Deji’s behaviour fuels such rumours.”
Another source criticized the Deji’s hasty decision to suspend the Iralepo of Isinkan following a court ruling:
“This Deji is acting irrationally. He thinks he can revoke an Oba’s certificate, which was granted through the Ajama Commission, without government intervention. If I were the governor, I would suspend him immediately. You cannot claim to suspend an Oba whose Staff of Office is equal to yours.”
He further alleged that the Deji attempted to forcefully install a rival chief in Isinkan’s palace on Sunday but was prevented by widespread resistance:
“If they had marched to the palace, Akure would have exploded. The Deji should thank his stars they didn’t come.”
Akure North monarch warns of potential crisis
The Ireshi of Osi, Oba David Olajide, affirmed the allegations against the Deji:
“His men go around boasting that they can get any court ruling they want. If rumours persist that he is buying judgments and he does nothing to stop his men from making such claims, who is to blame?”
The monarch called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene before the situation escalated into a full-blown crisis like the Ife-Modakeke conflict.
“The governor must act before Ondo State turns into another Ife and Modakeke. If Isinkan erupts, Isolo will follow, then Osi, and it will spread across the state.”
The Deji’s alleged attempt to control all Obas
Oba Olajide criticized the Deji’s efforts to dominate other monarchs, arguing that his legal battles were unjustified:
“The Deji is fighting me, the Osolo of Isolo, and the Iralepo of Isinkan in court. But he has no right to challenge my authority in Akure North. I got my consent from my prescribed authority, the Oloba of Oba Ile, not the Deji. He wasn’t even an Oba when I was installed in 2014.”
On the Iralepo matter, he added:
“The Instrument of Office that Iralepo has is the same as the Deji’s. He cannot suspend him. Only the government has the right to revoke an Oba’s certificate, not another Oba.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa urged to act
If allowed to address the governor directly, Oba Olajide said he would state:
“Your Excellency, don’t let this man destroy Ondo State. Other towns like Owo, Ikare, and Ondo have multiple recognized Obas without conflict. Why is the Deji of Akure the only one causing problems?”
He further criticized the Deji’s desire to control all Akure-speaking communities, stating that historically, Akure was an amalgamation of independent settlements.
“The Deji did not give these communities land. In fact, some of them existed before Asodeboyede migrated to Akure.”
Final warning: Preventing a full-blown crisis
Oba Olajide warned that unless the Ondo State Government intervenes, the Deji’s actions could trigger violent clashes across the state:
“If the governor does not step in, things will spiral out of control. His attempt to forcefully install a chief in Isinkan could have resulted in deaths and destruction. Does he think Governor Aiyedatiwa could have proceeded with his inauguration if Ondo State was burning?”
“The Deji must be reminded that we live in a lawful society. If he continues on this path, he will bring chaos upon himself and the entire state.”
