I remain the prescribed authority in Akureland — Deji of Akure

The Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, has reaffirmed his position as the prescribed and consenting authority over the appointment of minor chiefs in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The statement came in response to protests by the Regent of Oba-Ile, Princess Adefoluke Agunbiade-Adu, and the Oloba-in-Council, who alleged that the Deji was seeking to annexe their domain and usurp their authority over chieftaincy affairs.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Michael Adeyeye, during a press conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the monarch described the Oloba-in-Council’s position as “a distortion of history,” insisting that his prescribed authority stands on solid ground — supported by government circulars, court judgments, and tradition.

The monarch said, “Without mincing words, only the Deji has the prerogative to appoint minor chiefs in Owode, Eleyowo, Araromi, and other communities in both Akure North and South,” the monarch declared.

The press briefing, attended by several traditional rulers from the area, including the Olu of Eleyowo, Ojo Boboye Adekunle, and the Olu of Owode, Samuel Ifedayo Fapounda, reinforced the monarch’s stance.

Oba Aladelusi cited official documents and legal pronouncements to buttress his claim. He referenced government circulars dated 1999 and 2007, which, according to him, unequivocally recognised the Deji as the prescribed authority despite the bifurcation of Akure into two local governments.

He also pointed to judgments of the Ondo State High Court and subsequent Court of Appeal decisions, which upheld his paramountcy and authority to consent to the appointment of minor chiefs across Akure land.

“For avoidance of doubt, it is on record that the State Government had settled this matter through the issuance of circulars and judicial pronouncements,” he said.

“The bifurcation of Akure into two councils notwithstanding, the Deji of Akureland retains consenting authority based on historical and traditional rights, which are not negotiable.”

The monarch further dismissed claims by the Oloba-in-Council that the Oba-Ile stool predates Akure, describing such assertions as “illogical and misleading.” He maintained that Akure’s history is rooted in Oduduwa ancestry, with Asodeboyede as its progenitor, making the Deji’s stool paramount over all of Akure land.

“Truth is sacred and cannot be defeated. The attempt to distort facts about Akure’s history is nothing but desperation,” the Deji stated.

Reiterating his position, Oba Aladelusi emphasised that the government’s creation of local councils was for administrative convenience and not to alter traditional structures.

“For the umpteenth time, the Deji remains the prescribed authority in the appointment of minor chiefs in Akure North Local Government,” he declared.

He maintained that, “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.

“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.

“Additionally, the Ondo State High Court in two 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, 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, empowered traditionally and in law to appoint and consent to the appointment of minor chiefs within the land, notwithstanding 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 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 are carved out of Akure land for government administrative convenience.

“The Government never intended to destroy traditions and culture through the creation of local government. Rather, their unhidden intention is to bring governance and development closer to the people.

“This good intention and gesture of the government should not be misconstrued as an attempt to cause frictions.”

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