The Irun Akoko community in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State has rejected what it described as a move to polarise the town through the recognition of one Hon. Olanrewaju Adeyemi as the “Owa Adimula” of a purported Oke-Oro community.
The community urged Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to halt any process aimed at recognising the title, insisting that Oke-Oro is a non-existent community and that the matter is already before a court of law.
Addressing a news conference in Akure on behalf of the Onirun of Irun Akoko, Oba Samuel Bayode Agboola, his high chiefs and the people of the town, the Asiwaju of Irun Akoko, Chief Paul Oguntimehin, alongside the community’s lawyer, Mr Olusegun Adu Peters, said the move was unknown to law and capable of disrupting peace in the area.
Adu Peters disclosed that a suit challenging the action was pending before Justice B. J. Akinwumi of the Ondo State High Court sitting in Ikare Akoko.
“We urge Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to do the needful by rejecting any request submitted for the approval and recognition of the purported ‘Owa Adimula’ title of the first defendant and his non-existing ‘Oke-Oro’ community during the pendency of suit number HCIK/20/CIV/2025,” the lawyer said.
He explained that the suit was instituted to challenge what he described as the provocative act of Hon. Adeyemi in seeking recognition for an unapproved community within Irun Akoko without the consent of the Onirun, noting that the action had in the past led to a breach of peace.
According to him, all parties in the suit had been duly served, adding that the matter had come up twice before the court and had been adjourned for hearing.
Adu Peters further alleged that despite the subsisting litigation, the defendant was making moves to secure government approval for the disputed title, warning that such action could further inflame tension in the town.
He recalled that a similar attempt in 2014, through suit number HIK/24/2014, seeking recognition of Oke-Oro and approval to appoint a traditional ruler, was dismissed by the court. He added that the request was also rejected by the Ajama Commission of Inquiry, stressing that no community known as Oke-Oro was recognised in the commission’s report and the White Paper issued on August 24, 2024.
“We are here because we want peace. Sons and daughters of Irun Akoko are making progress within and outside the country, and we do not want confusion or misunderstanding to derail our development,” Adu Peters said.
He reaffirmed that Irun Akoko had historically remained united under the leadership of the Onirun, adding, “Oba Agboola is our head and we are solidly behind him. We do not want war in our land.”
Also speaking, the Asiwaju of Irun Akoko, Chief Oguntimehin, appealed to the governor and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to reject what he termed Adeyemi’s plot.
“If there is anyone the government wants to compensate, they can make him a commissioner or recommend him for an ambassadorial position. They should not create problems for my generation by making someone king of a non-existent community,” he said.
Oguntimehin faulted the continued parading of Adeyemi as an oba since 2014, lamenting what he described as the government’s indifference to the development efforts of the community.
“We have renovated schools, attracted the Civil Defence to Irun, and ongoing projects are benefiting everyone. We want peace to develop our town. The state government should not create problems for us by creating any kingdom for anybody,” he added.
0 Comments