Residents of Ifon community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene in the lingering kingship crisis in the town following the death of the former Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi.
The late monarch was killed by suspected gunmen along the Owo-Ifon Expressway in November 2020, throwing the ancient community into mourning and triggering a prolonged succession dispute over the vacant stool.
Since the monarch’s demise, disagreements among the ruling houses over the selection of a new Olufon have led to a series of court cases, leaving the community without a traditional ruler for over five years.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday on behalf of the people of the town, the Chairman of the Ifon Improvement Forum, Major General Benjamin Badewole (retd.), appealed to the governor to step into the matter and facilitate a peaceful resolution.
Badewole said the absence of a monarch had negatively affected social and economic activities in the community.
He said, “We are appealing to the Governor of Ondo State, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to assist us in resolving the Olufon chieftaincy crisis.
“The late Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adegoke Adeusi, was killed by unknown gunmen on November 26, 2020. His death was traumatic because he was highly revered by the people.
“After his death, all sons and daughters of Ifon, both home and abroad, united to organise a befitting burial for him. The interdenominational funeral service held on April 21, 2021, attracted dignitaries from across the country, while the Ondo State Government under the late Rotimi Akeredolu sent a powerful delegation.”
According to him, the state government had at the time pledged to preserve the monarch’s legacy by ensuring the emergence of a new king without delay.
He, however, lamented that more than five years after the monarch’s death, the town was yet to have a new traditional ruler.
Badewole accused the ruling houses involved in the succession process of failing to resolve their differences amicably, adding that legal disputes had continued to stall efforts aimed at settling the matter.
“The executive council of the Ifon Improvement Forum observed that despite several letters written by socio-cultural groups and stakeholders to the governor, there was no response.
“We later gathered that the local government chairman had written to a particular ruling house to present candidates, a development that did not go down well with other ruling houses because the affected family had only recently occupied the throne,” he explained.
He added that some aggrieved ruling houses subsequently approached the court, further complicating the process.
“We appealed to them to withdraw the cases so that a peaceful resolution could be reached, but there is a trust deficit among the parties involved.
“Those of us in the Ifon Improvement Forum are not princes and cannot contest for the stool, but we are interested in ensuring peace and unity in the community so that Ifon can once again have representation in the council of Obas,” he said.
The retired general also expressed concern over repeated adjournments in the court proceedings, noting that the prolonged vacancy had continued to affect development in the town.
He stated that despite the leadership vacuum, the Ifon Improvement Forum had been supporting the community in critical areas such as healthcare, security and education.
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