…..We’re under the authority of Deji of Akure —Olus in Akure North declare
The Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi has declared that his traditional and historical authority over Akure South and Akure North local government areas is not in dispute and non-negiotiable.
Similarly, the group of Olus/minor chiefs in Akure North local government area have declared that the Deji of Akure remains the consenting authority for them.
Speaking at a news conference held at Akure City Hall, Oba Aladetoyinbo flanked by the Akure North Olus, described a recent press conference by some Obaile Indigenes and the Oloba-in-council, as futile efforts to distort facts.
The Akure Monarch and Olus who spoke through Adeyeye Michael, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akureland, said history on the paramountcy of the Deji over Akure North has never been in dispute while all litigations instituted had been ruled in favour of the Deji.
Below is the full text of the press conference;
THE OLOBA-IN-COUNCIL FUTILE EFFORT TO DISTORT FACTS AND HISTORY ON THE PARAMOUNTCY OF THE DEJI OVER AKURE NORTH
We are gathered to address some issues and distortions of facts raised during a press conference organised by some Oba-Ile indigenes where some unfounded and baseless allegations were made against the respected stool of the Deji of Akure Land.
We wondered whether those who gathered to address the press are ignorant of the fact that all the issues raised had been resolved many years back or they are being paid to carry out the hatchet job of deliberately misinforming the unsuspecting public.
There is no doubt that such press conference was done in a bad taste to raise and cause unnecessary friction. For avoidance of doubt, it is on record that the State Government had settled the issue of prescribed Authority through the issuance of circular No. CD/C.6/9/20/96 dated the 19th of August, 1999 which was addressed to the Oloba of Oba-Ile, Late Oba Joseph Oluwadare Agunbiade The letter stated inter alia thus: “3. “In view of the above, I am directed to inform you that the bifurcation of Akure to two local government notwithstanding, the Deji of Akure land still retain consenting authority based on traditional and historical background which is not negotiable……… I am to add that the issue should be regarded as being resolved. Hence, government will frown at any person or group of people that want to foment trouble….”
We do not intend to join issue with people who are ignorant of history and are bent on distorting facts and put logic on its head. For the sake of setting the record straight, Akure had long being in existence before the coming of Asodeboyede who later became the progenitor of Akure being a direct descendant of Oduduwa.
Asodeboyede was received by the trio of Alakunre, Odopetu and Edemo who had long provided leadership for the old Akure land which predates the coming of Asodeboyede.
It is highly illogical for anyone to claim to be a Yoruba man without any known link with the ile-ife or Oduduwa ancestry. Such a person must either be ignorant of history or trying to deceive himself. Are the Oloba- in council claiming to be the first creature of God before Adam and Eve? Truth is sacred and cannot be defeated.
Another tissue of lies by the Oloba in-council was their claim that Obagbeyi was the son of Oloba and the first Deji of Akure. This distortion further exposed their desperation to cover up a known truth.
We need to educate them on the fact that Obagbeyi Adegbite who ruled between 1313 – 1363 was the 11th Deji of Akure and was only related maternally to the Oloba. Obagbeyi was the Son of Otemoye who ruled between 1277 – 1287 as the 7th Deji of Akure.
For the purpose of further clarity, the Ondo State Government had settled the matter of consenting authority when it reared its ugly head again through a circular letter CD/C6/9/20/I/VOL.III/134 to all Chairmen of Local Government Councils and Chieftaincy Committees dated 16th January, 2007.
It stated “…..the fact that two Local Government Councils have been created out of Akure Local Government does not infringe on the consenting Authority of the Deji of Akure over areas traditionally and historically under his control prior to the creation of Akure North Local Government.
Additionally, the Ondo State High Court in 2 separate judgments by Justice W.A Akintoroye and Justice A. Osadebay had resolved the matter of prescribed authority by affirming the Deji as the consenting and prescribing authority over minor chieftaincies in Akure North.
The Judgment of His Lordship Justice W.A Akintoroye dismissed the suit challenging the Authority of the Deji (SUIT NO: AK/28/2017) over the appointment of Minor Chiefs in Akure North Local Government in the judgment dated 28th March, 2018.
The court it its judgment held that; a. From time immemorial, the entire Akure Land has been under the hegemony of the Deji of Akure. By virtue of his said position, the Deji was the paramount ruler over the entire Akure land as well as being the consenting authority over all minor chiefs, Olus and Baales under him.
That prior to the bifurcation of Akure Local Government, the Deji of Akure by virtue of his position is the prescribed authority, was empowered traditionally and in law to appoint and consent the appointment of minor chiefs within the land not minding the bifurcation of the old Local Government into Akure North and South.
The Appeal court had unanimously upheld the two decisions of the lower court in separate judgments. We wish to call the attention of the Ondo State Government and security agents on the need to place Hon. Omoniyi Omodara on its watch list. He has the antecedent of fomenting troubles and causing division.
He was at loggerhead with the late Oloba of Oba-ile and made several attempt to ridicule the Oloba throne when he was in government. He is now tactically going back to his old trick of causing division when he is supposed to be an elder-statesman. We urge him to toe the path of peace and honour and desist from sowing the seed of discord which we will never allow to grow again.
We wish to make it abundantly clear that the issue of the paramountcy of the Deji of Akure Land is about the entire Akure land irrespective of how many Local Governments that are carved out of Akure land for government administrative convenience.
The Government never intended to destroy traditions and culture through creation of local government. Rather, their unhidden intention is to bring governance and development closer to the people. This good intention and gesture of government should not been misconstrued as an attempt to cause frictions.
For the umpteenth time, the Deji remains the prescribed authority in the appointment of minor Chiefs in Akure North Local Government. Without mincing words, only the Deji has the prerogative to appoint minor Chiefs in Owode, Eleyowo, Araromi and other communities of Akure North and South,” said Adeyeye Michael, Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akure Land said.
