- You don’t have such powers, Isolo kingmakers reply
The lingering royal tussle in the ancient town of Akure, Ondo State, took another dimension at the weekend, as the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, wielded the big stick, appointing a senior chief, the Lisa, Chief Joshua Omotayo, as the interim head of Isolo community.
He also placed another high chief in the community on indefinite suspension.
The Deji recently vetoed the installation of Oba Amos Idowu as the new Osolo of Isolo, saying the community was not entitled to an Oba, a claim which the Isolo kingmakers disputed.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deji, Mr. Michael Adeyeye, the royal father said this was sequel to a peace meeting held at the behest of the Ondo State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, recently.
The Deji stated, “The peace meeting was between the Deji of Akure and the government team, which included the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Deaconess Lola Fagbemi; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Kola Olawoye; the Akure South council chairman, Princess Margaret Atere; the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo; and the Secretary to the Chieftaincy Affairs Ministry, Mr. Chris Kolawole.
“It is imperative to emphasise that the Osolo chieftaincy title remains vacant, as all actions earlier taken by the Isolo chiefs remain ultra vires, null and void and of no effect.”
The traditional ruler also placed a vociferous Isolo high chief, Ibukun Adetoyinbo, on indefinite suspension, but did not state his offence.
But in a swift reaction, Isolo kingmakers replied the Deji, insisting that the community had appointed an Oba and that there was no need for an interim head.
In their response, four kingmakers, Chief Joshua Omotayo (Olisa) Chief Ibukun Adetoyinbo (Elemo) Chief Abiola Ogunjemilusi (Sao) and Chief H. A Babatunde (Osunla) dared the Deji, saying he could neither appoint nor sack any of the Isolo chiefs, as the community was not under the Deji’s jurisdiction.
The Isolo kingmakers contended, “For the umpteenth time, we wish to reiterate that the Osolo of Isolo and the Isolo chiefs are not made or appointed by or at the pleasure of the Deji of Akure, either traditionally or since the declaration of the Osolo of Isolo as a recognised chieftaincy by the Ondo State Government.
“Thus, the said press statement that the Deji of Akure appointed the Olisa as the Interim Head of Isolo community or that the Deji could suspend the Elemo, is both false and without effect, as such acts are not within the Deji’s powers.”
Meanwhile, some of the kingmakers, who spoke with our correspondent, said Oba Idowu is currently outside the country to briefly attend to his business, but the CPS to the Deji claimed that the embattled royal father “has fled and he is in a hideout.”
