The Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, has reaffirmed his position as the prescribed authority in the appointment of minor chiefs across Akure land, including communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
His declaration followed accusations by the Oloba-in-Council, led by Regent Princess Adefoluke Agunbiade-Adu, that the Akure monarch was interfering in their chieftaincy matters and attempting to annex Owode, Araromi, and Eleyowo communities.
Addressing journalists on Monday in Akure, Oba Aladelusi revealed that he has the prerogative to appoint minor Chiefs in four communities headed by the ‘Olus’ in the Akure North LGA of the state.
The Akure monarch, who spoke through his spokesman, Michael Adeyeye, stated that the state government has settled the issue of prescribed authority through the issuance of a letter dated August 1999.
He stressed that government circulars and court rulings had long settled the matter, citing a 1999 state circular and a 2007 government directive, both of which recognised the Deji’s authority to appoint minor chiefs in Akure North and South LGAs of the state.
“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.
“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,” he said.
According to him, “the state government also settled the matter of consenting authority 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.
“The letter stated that 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 before the creation of Akure North Local Government.”
The monarch also referenced rulings by Justice W.A. Akintoroye (2018) and Justice A. Osadebay, which affirmed the Deji’s status as both consenting and prescribing authority over minor chieftaincies in Akure North.
He added that the Court of Appeal also upheld the two judgments.
Oba Aladelusi specifically cited the judgment of Justice Akintoroye of the state high court, which dismissed the suit challenging the authority of the Deji of Akure in a suit no: AK/28/2017 over the appointment of minor chiefs in Akure North LGA dated March 28, 2018.
“The court in its judgment, held that, 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 to 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.”
He, however, kicked against the claim of the Oloba in-council that the Obagbeyi was the son of Oloba and the first Deji of Akure, saying the distortion by the community exposed the 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.”
