By: Oluwatosin Adesola
Indigenes, inhabitants and Council-of-Chiefs in Okeigbo Kingdom, have called on the Ondo State government to wait for outcome courts’ cases before embarking on the selection and appointment of new Oluoke of Okeigbo in the interest of peace and order in the town.
This is just as the Kingmakers in the town on Monday declared that nobody has been selected as the new Oluoke-elect, describing rumours of appointing somebody as the new monarch as unacceptable to them.
There has been rumours of purported selection of Prince Akintoye Adeoye from Aare Kugbayigbe Ruling House, as the new Oluoke without the involvement of 11 out of 14 Kingmakers as requires by the state laws.
However, addressing newsmen in Akure on Monday, the kingmakers under the umbrella of the Oluoke’s Council-of-Chiefs, insisted that it is the turn of Kuole Oloje Ruling House to produce the new Oba for the town, noting that Aare Kugbayigbe Ruling House can not produce king in succession.
The Kingmakers spoke through the Chairman of the Council-of-Chiefs, High Chief Deji Akintokunbo who doubles as the Orunto of Okeigbo, and High Chief Dele Oduwale who is the Ojumu of Okeigbo Kingdom.
High Chief Oduwale said “Fellow indigenes and inhabitants of Okeigbo Kingdom, it is necessary to address you and the general public on the current happenings in our kingdom.
“It came to our notice that there was a selection of a new monarch on 27th of June, 2025. We understand that some of you may not be aware of the traditional process involved in selection of a new monarch. Firstly, it is a known law of Ondo State that once a ruling house has produced a king, the new king will be from the next ruling house.
“Aare Kugbayigbe ruling house can not produce king in succession, therefore, it should be the turn of Kuole Oloje Ruling house to produce Oluoke of Okeigbo. More so, the Selection Process is guided by our customs and traditions, which dictate that the kingmakers (who are 14 in number, to include the Regent, the six high chiefs and eight others) will identify suitable candidate through an election process based on their lineage, wisdom, and leadership qualities.
“It is in the absence of any of these kingmakers that warrant chiefs are engaged. Presently, we are perturbed in the way the Ondo state government has handled this without any communication to the palace. Is it that the state has forgotten that some people are in the palace holding forth?
“Moreover, the state government is aware of an appeal pending at the appellate court, Akure Division which has even issued a stay of execution order restraining the state government from proceeding in any selection pending the final verdict of the court.
“I urge all of you to remain calm and patient as we navigate this process. Your support and prayers are invaluable to us as we must insist on doing things in the right way. May the wisdom and guidance of our ancestors direct us in this noble endeavour,” High Chief Oduwale said.
High Chief Akintokunbo said 11 out of 14 kingmakers are alive and it’s strange to allegedly select somebody without their involvement.
The High Chief appealed for calm among the residents, and advised the saw government to allow the rule of law prevail by allowing court to decide the issue accordingly as imposition of illegal person as monarch would not be acceptable to the town.
