I have suspended Oba Ojo as Iralepo – Deji of Akure; You lack powers to sack who you didn’t appoint – Community
*How do you suspend who you did not appoint? Deji was asked *As Community tells Akure monarch, "You lack power to suspend Iralepo"
By KEMI KASUMU
We gathered that the Deji’s continued thought of using the court to twist the course of culture in and around the Akure speaking towns and communities in Ondo State will cost the kingdom the unity that it requires to achieve its Akure Agenda to produce the next Governor of the state.
The Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, claims to have approved the immediate suspension of His Royal Majesty Oba (Barrister) Oluwagbemiga Ojo Olofin-Adimula, as the Iralepo of Isinkan.
The decision follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which nullified the upgrading of the Iralepo Chieftaincy to a recognized title. The court reaffirmed that Isinkan remains a quarter under the authority of the Deji of Akure Kingdom and that any upgrade of the title must have the Deji’s consent.
In compliance with the ruling, Oba Aladetoyinbo directed Mr. Ojo to cease parading himself as Iralepo, while all privileges associated with the title stand revoked. The palace urged residents of Akure and Isinkan quarters to remain calm and law-abiding.
Meanwhile, the Iralepo-in-Council has dismissed the purported suspension, stating that the Deji lacks the authority to suspend a chief he did not appoint.
According to a statement signed by High Chief Kayode Oluyi, the Olisa of Isinkan, the Court of Appeal only gave a summary of its judgment, with the full text yet to be released.
The council emphasized that the Deji had previously lost a case at the High Court, where he challenged the Iralepo’s appointment by the government without his consent. They argued that since the Deji was not responsible for the appointment, he could not enforce a suspension.
The Iralepo-in-Council assured the people of Isinkan that Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula (Arulewolasi III) remains the Iralepo of Isinkan and urged residents to remain calm.
We gathered that the Deji’s continued thought of using the court to twist the course of culture in and around the Akure speaking towns and communities in Ondo State will cost the kingdom the unity that it requires to achieve its Akure Agenda to produce the next Governor of the state.
“We have long left Egypt and we will not return there. That is what I can tell you about the gimmick the Deji of Akure and those who are wrongly advising him to think that he can use the judiciary to manipulate the course of customs, traditions and culture the way they are doing. The Deji wants to turn all crown Obas of Akure speaking communities into mere chiefs yet he parades himself as paramount ruler against the provisions of the state laws, which do not recognize paramountcy.
“We are waiting to see which judgment of Court of Appeal he claims has empowered him to try this fresh attempt to cause chaos to destroy the peace the administration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had achieved before his demise,which the successive administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has continued to sustain in the communities and across the state.
“This is why we keep telling those that care to know that the Deji’s attitude will cost the Akure speaking communities the unity that they need to achieve the Akure Agenda to produce the next Governor of the state,” a source in Ifedore Local Government, criticising what he called “the funny statement of Iralepo’s sack by the Deji of Akure”, said.
