Ondo govt urged to implement Ajama chieftaincy declaration

The Ondo State Government has been urged to implement the White Paper on the Ajama Chieftaincy Declaration that recognised the Dero Ruling House of Ore, in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

The Ruling House said the call became necessary for peace to reign in the commercial city of Ore, following the struggle to install a new traditional ruler for the town.

The Olore of Ore stool became vacant in August 2022 following the death of Oba Adebayo Temikotan from the Akintimehin Ruling House, which was hitherto the only recognised Ruling House in the town.

The Justice Ajama Chieftaincy Declaration had recognised Orunseri, Akintimehin, and Dero as the Ruling Houses that have the right to rule over Ore town.

However, the ruling noted that the recommendation of the Ajama Chieftaincy Declaration which recognized the House as a ruling House has not been implemented by the state.

According to the Dero Ruling House, the state government has hidden under the pretence that there are pending cases in court as excuses.

The Ruling House on Sunday, through its Head and Secretary, Chief Temidayo Adesanlu, and Folorunso Kolawole Ijiniyi respectively, said there was no pending case in court that could prevent the implementation of the report.

Addressing reporters, the Dero Ruling House said the judgment of Justice Sunday Olorundahunsi had validated the Ajama Chieftaincy Declaration that it is the turn of the family to produce the next Olore of Ore.

Justice Olorundahunsi had declared that the two founding families of Ore in Odigbo local government namely the Akintimehin family and the Dero family are the ones entitled to ascend the throne of Olore in rotation.

In its judgment, the court had given “A declaration that it is the turn of the Claimant family that is, the Dero Ruling House of Ore to nominate and present a candidate to fill the stool of Olore of Ore after the demise of Oba Adebayo Temikotan who is from Akintimehin Family.”

The court order also invalidated the 1997 Chieftaincy Declaration that had earlier recognised Akintimehin Ruling House as the only family entitled to Olore’s stool.

Adesanlu said both the judgment of Justice Olorundahunsi and the Ajama Chieftaincy Declaration of 2022 have given them the leeway to produce the monarch for the vacant stool of Ore.

The Ruling House pleaded with the State government to direct its relevant agency to implement the Ajama Declaration for peace to reign in the commercial city of Ore.