LET US BE GUIDED BY FACTS AND HISTORY: The truth about the Akure and Isinkan issue

MAIN POINTS:

*Document shows Iralepo of Isinkan and Osolo of Isolo as independent of the Deji of Akure in the method of their appointment
*Historical document shows Akure, governed by Chief Deji, as lived side-by-side with Isinkan, Isolo, Oba-Ile….Iju, Ita-Ogbolu, 11 other completely organised villages

By OMOLOLU AGBO

The fact that Akure became the State Capital does not give it the right to subsume another community as conquered territory. Before the advent of the colonial masters, each community had its own Oba and they saw themselves as brothers.

I want to passionately appeal to everyone to please direct their minds to issues and get adequate facts before coming online to comment on very sensitive matters.

The issue between Akure and Isinkan ordinarily should not have gotten to this level, if not for the fact that a section of people have refused to carry out proper research, both historical and documentary.

Both communities have co-existed peacefully for ages, with mutual respect for each other’s customs, traditions and boundaries.

The fact that Akure became the State Capital does not give it the right to subsume another community as conquered territory. Before the advent of the colonial masters, each community had its own Oba and they saw themselves as brothers.

When the colonial masters came, they began to write documents in respect of the areas governed by the white masters. They were called District Officers (DO). One of those who administered this area was A.N.C Wiles. He put up a document in December 1934 titled “Akure District Intelligence Report: Method of Appointing the Deji of Akure and Village Heads.”

In that historic document, he stated clearly that Akure is governed by a title holder called Chief Deji. He went further to state that there are 16 villages that have their organization complete and he listed them as follows: Isinkan No. 1, Isolo No. 2, Oba-Ile No. 3, and others in sequence – Ibule, Igbara-Oke, Ilara, Ikota, Ijare, Obo, Irese, Iju, Ita-Ogbolu, Igoba, Ero, Isharun and Igara-Oke.

The white master also documented that the Deji as head chief had IYARE MEFA and stated them as: Olisa, Odopetu, Elemo, Aro, Ojomu and Asaiye.

He went further to list the Akure permanent farm settlements (Egure) where he clearly mentioned that this is where Deji has veto power over land. The list is: Ipinsha, Aule, Ilere, Eyi, Aaye, Odudu, Ishinigbo, Osi, Irowo, Udopo, Ubemo, Ishafinrin, Oda, Igbatoro.

The methods of appointment of the village heads were well outlined. At page 17 of the document, it was stated that “the position of the Iralepo of Isinkan and Osolo of Isolo can be regarded as independent of the Deji of Akure in the method of their appointment.”

Please, take your time to study before you go to the examination hall. Do proper research before and during laboratory tests. You don’t just challenge others without proper proof. You will definitely fail.

Each of the villages was counted separately and figures of its people allotted in the first ever population census recorded in this environment. Akure was counted as a unit and each village was appointed a Councillor each, while Akure as big as it was had one Councillor and the Deji of Akure was appointed as the President of the Native Authority.

The issue that most novices are referring to today in the celebrated case between Akure and Idanre was entered into in a representative capacity by the Deji. See the said judgment in Suit No W/40/1939 – this is a CTC copy, because in no time you will say Iralepo forged the document. All the communities in Akure District co – funded the case both at the court of first instance and the appeal there after and the final judgment clearly gave the land in dispute to the Akures. Not ” Akure” see the reading in the judgement as stated that the case was ” inter tribal communal conflict” ( Awon Aya) take for example if Former Governor Mimiko went to court on behalf of Ondo state while in office as the Governor and after the victory of the case, let the people of Ondo town now wants to single handedly claim and wants to enjoy the gain of the judgement alone. It will not be possible. Each component of the District member have potion of their own land separately and different from each other. Akure town land is different from that of iju land, ljare town land is different from Ero land . Lets respect each other. And our target of producing the next Governor of the state can be achieved.

The Plaintiff claims for himself and on behalf of the people of Akure a declaration of title to all that portion of land situate in Akure District in Nigeria, in an area approximately ten miles by forty miles, situate and bounded on the North by Ondo public road, on the South partly by Ofosu river and on the East by Ogbese River and on the West by Owena river.

Today the area covered is now Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore Local Government of Ondo State. Why is Deji not going to sell the land of Ifedore people? Why is he not selling the land of Akure North people? Why is it that after they had sold all that belongs to them, the only place they faced and kept selling as if they are under obligation to dispose within a specific time is Isinkan section of the Akure District land?

A large expanse of land was occupied by a family on Isinkan land and the then Iralepo who reigned between 1932 to 1976 called them to order. The said family went to report the matter to the Deji of Akure – a Deji who was a lawyer and a direct son of a presiding Deji, whose father was believed to be one of the longest reigning Deji and very upright and versed in the knowledge of Akure and its environs. Oba Ademuagun Adesida II called the entire Akure Council of Chiefs to join him in resolving the matter.

The Akure Native Court gave its historic judgment in black and white on the 13th day of August, 1971 and they all unanimously stated: “We the undersigned for and on behalf of ourselves and Akure have the following declaration to make as the final verdict on land dispute involving Isinkan and Eruoba on one side and Isinkan versus Osabi on the other hand. Having studied Osabi’s case, we have agreed that Chief Iralepo has been ruling the disputed area for the past ages even before Asodeboyede.”

The Council went further to state: “Asodeboyede could not have given away the land of Iralepo without his consent and pre-consultation or approval.” They said Iralepo should treat them as his tenants on the land. They also confirmed the territorial boundaries of the Iralepo as: “Chief Iralepo shares boundary with Chief Aro on the North and by Aponmu on the West while going to Ondo. Iralepo has the full right and authority over the land.” Signed by the Deji of Akure and 10 of his most senior high chiefs.

What else do you still need more than truth? “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

The family that went to report to the Deji and whose judgment was given against them for the benefit of Iralepo, the true owner of the land, went to court. In Suit No AK/15/71, Justice A.O. Ogunleye gave a landmark judgment on the 13th June, 1986 wherein the said Akure Native Court verdict was tendered by one of the makers of the document, accompanied by other Senior High Chiefs, Aro Adebowale Julius. The tendered document was admitted as Exhibit ‘A’. The Judge spoke extensively on the Akure Native Court verdict and confirmed that the Plaintiff right to the said expanse of land could not stand because Deji of Akure could not give away the land of lralepo.

Justice Ogunleye listed among Iralepo who had exercised rights of ownership on the area to include: Oralopo, Akinnadio, Amusi, Oreniwon, Ajesho, Ajimokunola, Aisiwonile Moyede, Elesaobaye, Ajamugogun, Egboro, Parakosa, Arilewola, Amudipote, Ona Owuro, Alade.

The Judge went further to state: 1. That Oralopo (now Iralepo) came from Ile-Ife in company of his chiefs and people and settled at Oke Isinkan. Isinkan was not part and parcel of Akure. This was many years ago, time out of mind. 2. The land now in dispute legitimately belongs to Isinkan people.

Nobody has gone to court to challenge the said High Court judgment. The said verdict is today statute barred.

*I want to specifically point out that at no time has the Iralepo of Isinkan ever instituted any matter in court against the Deji of Akure.*

After the selection of the present Iralepo of Isinkan on the 21st of October, 2021, the Deji of Akure sued the Iralepo in court on the 22nd of October, 2021, in a process that was supervised by the Secretary of Akure South Local Government and other appropriate Government agencies with the approval of the Ondo State Government.

Five princes of Isinkan contested the vacant throne by collecting application forms from the Omowas. They were screened and presented to the Kingmakers where all contestants submitted application letters and picked intention forms and came personally for screening. The Kingmakers consulted Ifa Oracle and Prince Olugbenga Ojo (now Oba Olugbenga Ojo) was selected as the most suitable and God-sent.

To fulfill all righteousness and due process, the Local Government and the State were informed that the Kingmakers would like to pick the Oba-elect by voting. A date and place was picked and the contestants were invited by letter and the representatives of the Omowas were also invited as observers and the selection exercise was carried out according to the customary law of Isinkan Kingdom.

The matter that went to court was the interpretation of the judgment in the matter between the then Deji of Akure, Oba Adepoju, and the late Iralepo and late Osolo. What the court clearly stated in 2012 was that Iralepo and Osolo ought not to have gone to court for declaratory reliefs, that if they are not satisfied with Exhibit V and Q, the appropriate thing to do is to approach the State Executive Council, that the court cannot take over the duty of the State Executive Council who has the prerogative power over chieftaincy matters. That the court cannot make an Oba.

The Iralepo and Osolo have now taken their matter back to the State Government and a Commission of Enquiry, the Ajama Commission, was put in place for the whole State to hear and receive memoranda from any community that has proof regarding its chieftaincy matter. Both communities submitted their memos and the Akure chiefs filed counter memos, issues were joined and determined. At the end, Isinkan and Isolo passed the test and were so recommended to the Executive Council. The matter was tabled at the State Executive Council meetings and it was ratified, accepted and duly approved for recognition under the Ondo State Chiefs Law into Part I and the State White Paper was issued.

This very issue was what the Deji of Akure sued the Governor of Ondo State, the Deputy Governor, the Attorney General of the State, the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, and the Iralepo of Isinkan, Oba Olugbenga Ojo over.

Note, for everybody who has a good mind to know the truth, that under cross-examination DW1, the Chief of Staff to the Deji of Akure who is also his blood brother, said clearly that this matter was instituted during the pendency of the Court of Appeal matter which the same Deji of Akure is dragging with the Iralepo. He said they filed this case because the cause of action in this High Court matter is totally different from the one at the Court of Appeal, because the cause of action in this matter has to do with the White Paper on Ajama that had never been an issue before any court other than this High Court.

So therefore, don’t let anyone deceive you that the High Court has overruled the Appeal Court judgment. There is nothing like that. They went to file another matter different from the one pending now at the Supreme Court and they got a very different result. Can you have the same matter with the same cause of action in two or three courts at the same time? It will simply amount to abuse of court process.

I also have first-hand information that the present Iralepo had gone to see the Ooni of Ife, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Oba of Benin, the Olowo of Owo, the Amapetu of Mahin, and all the Obas in Akure South to appeal to the Deji of Akure not to allow this matter to degenerate to what we have at hand. That it is not proper for a Traditional Ruler to drag a fellow Traditional Ruler to court, that every issue can be resolved at home. He had also requested to meet with the Deji of Akure through veritable written evidences to no avail.

We also have information that the Governor of Ondo State had made several efforts to get this issue resolved between the two Obas. And leaders of the community and religious fathers including Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Kabiyesi Olu Falae of Ilu-Abo, Bishop Borokini, Bishop Fagbemi, Bishop Adejumo, Prophet Ojo Authority and many other great leaders tried to no avail to prevent the Deji of Akure from dragging the Iralepo of Isinkan to court.

I was reliably told that the Iralepo of Isinkan, Oba Barrister Oluwagbemiga Ojo Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula, said he possesses several documentary and oral historical evidences to support his case, far beyond what he had submitted at the High Court that gave undisputed judgment on the 12th October, 2025, where it was clearly stated that the Executive Council of the State is the only one that has the prerogative power over chieftaincy matters.

Please take your time to read the _Itan Akure ati Agbegbe Re_ in relation to the story of Aro Akure, Oshodi of Akure, Olisa Kafii (Gabriel Amudipe), the story of Ogun Akure ati Ado 1881 and the story of Isinkan and Isolo. Information is power, but be very careful of the kind of information you feed yourself with.

Peace is still possible if we allow truth and history to guide us.