Residents of Ode Irele, the administrative center of Irele Local Government Area in Ondo State, protested on Thursday against the state government’s alleged attempt to impose a prince as the community’s monarch.
According to The PUNCH, the royal position has been vacant since the death of Oba Olanrewaju Lebi in January 1993, and the community has not yet resolved who should be appointed as the next Oba.
Protesters gathered in front of the state High Court in Okitipupa, chanting solidarity songs and urging Governor Luck Aiyedatiwa to follow due process in selecting and appointing a new monarch.
They carried placards with messages such as, “Irele people demand justice,” “All we are saying is to give Irele people justice,” and “Attorney General cannot protect the law of the state.”
The leader of the protesters, Solomon Idowu, emphasized their demand for justice in the chieftaincy matter.
He stated, “We are here to protest over the position of Obas in Ode-Irele. Some years ago, one person invaded the shrine and installed himself as king of our community. We informed the government about his action, and he was thereafter charged to court.”
Idowu continued, “Our reliable sources told us that the person has gone behind us to Akure and met the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on the matter to truncate the due process so that all cases against him must be withdrawn. We are seriously against that; law must take its course on him. Anyone who is against the law of the land must face the music, and imposition is not acceptable to the people of Irele kingdom. The ruling must be done without any form of compromise.”
Another protester, Odunsanmi Morebise, accused some community leaders of plotting to undermine the case, insisting that the ancestors would not allow any imposition.
He urged the state government to let the kingmakers follow due process in selecting the new Olofun.
In response, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Amidu Takuro, denied the allegations, stating that the government had no plans to impose kingship candidates on any community.
“I am not aware of any plan to impose a candidate on any community. Every community has its laid down rules and regulations on how it handles its chieftaincy matters, and the government does not interfere in the process. All we do is follow due process in the selection and appointment of obaship candidates. So nobody is imposed on any community to be king,” the commissioner explained.
