*Even if approval given, only Oja Oba can be closed – Commissioner
“Asks Deji of Akure to respect govt’s decisions, laws of Ondo State
By KEMI KASUMU
The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, may have finally drawn the wrath of Ondo State government on himself as the existing chieftaincy law in the state, which he violates by planning to close markets in Isolo town and places other than in his own Akure domain, was Thursday read to him.
The bringing forth of the law was reminding the Deji that even, in his own Akure community, markets and shops will stay open during the Aheregbe festival Friday, unless he has approval of the Governor to shut them down.
This is because the law says, no traditional ruler shall close down any market or shop for the reason of any festival without the the approval of the Governor of the state.
The DEFENDER reported earlier that Osolo of Isolo, Oba Edward Adewole, had filed a petition to the Executive Governor, who is the only consenting authority on all Obaship matters, reporting the plan of the Deji to cause crisis in his peaceful Isolo town by ordering closure of markets and shops for the Friday August 25 festival in the town that has its own Oba and Council of Chiefs.
The Osolo had ordered that all markets and shops in his ancient community be opened and that residents in the town should go about their normal businesses as Aheregbe also called Dududu is not festival of Isolo town and so will not be allowed to encroach on the town’s territory talk less that it will be allowed to disrupt its commercial activities.
It is the law in Ondo State that no Oba shall trespass to domain of other Oba, meaning that Deji of Akure is naturally banned from exercising authority to order closure of market or shop in any town other than as legally recognised to be his own.
The DEFENDER gathered Thursday night, however, that even in his Akure, he can enforce closure of markets and shops for Aheregbe, “ONLY if” he has the approval of the Governor of the state to do so.
On August 24, 2022, exactly one year ago today, one of the decisions made by the Ondo State Executive Council, while putting a stop to indiscriminate closure of markets and shops by the Deji of Akure, was that “there shall be no closure of markets in any part of the state without the approval of the Governor.”
Reacting to the latest plan by the Deji to enforce markets and shops closure order even in towns other than his Akure on Friday, Hon Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said the statement credited to Mr. Michael Adeyeye, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akure “constitutes a clear violation of an existing order of the Government.”
The Commissioner said the Deji’s statement is also an abridgement of the right of Akure residents to the pursuance of their livelihood.
“The public should note that even if an approval was sought, such closure would have been limited to Ọjà Ọba (Oba’s Market) in Akure.
“We urge our respected Royal father, His Majesty, the Deji of Akure to respect the government decision and refrain from any action that can inconvenience, and, or inflict economic pain to Akure inhabitants.
“We also ask that the cordial relationship between the revered stool of the Deji not be drawn into open confrontation with the government.
“Akure residents are urged to go about their normal business on Friday and beyond, in pursuance of their freedoms. No market or shop shall be closed by anyone either by coercion or threat of force before, during or after Aheregbe festival.
“Whoever flies in the face of this directive will draw the ire of the government. The government of Ondo State ask that; everyone should be law abiding and move about freely in the pursuit of happiness, Hon Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, cleared the doubt of everyone.
