Residents of Ifon community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene in the lingering kingship dispute following the death of the town’s traditional ruler, Oba Israel Adeusi.
The first-class monarch was killed by gunmen along the Owo-Ifon Expressway in November 2020, leaving the Olufon stool vacant for more than five years.
Since the monarch’s death, disagreements among ruling houses over succession to the throne have reportedly triggered multiple court cases and stalled efforts to install a new king.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Ifon Improvement Forum, retired Major General Benjamin Badewole, urged the governor to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the crisis to restore stability to the ancient town.
According to him, the prolonged absence of a traditional ruler has negatively affected social, economic and cultural activities in the community.
“We are making a special appeal to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to assist us in resolving the Olufon chieftaincy crisis,” Badewole said.
He recalled that the late Oba Adeusi’s death was traumatic for the community, noting that the incident united indigenes of the town both at home and in the diaspora.
Badewole explained that following the monarch’s death, the community organised a befitting burial in 2021, attended by dignitaries and representatives of the Ondo State Government under the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
According to him, the government at the time promised to preserve the monarch’s legacy by ensuring the town got a new king without delay.
“But five and a half years later, Ifon still does not have an Oba,” he lamented.
The retired army general blamed the lingering crisis on disagreements among ruling houses and the series of litigations instituted by interested parties.
He said some ruling houses became dissatisfied after reports emerged that a particular family had allegedly been asked to present candidates for the stool despite recently occupying it.
“Those other ruling houses went to court. We tried to persuade them to withdraw the cases so that a peaceful settlement could be reached, but there is a trust deficit,” he stated.
Badewole stressed that members of the Ifon Improvement Forum were not contesting for the throne but were concerned about restoring peace and leadership to the community.
“We are only interested in ensuring that Ifon has a voice again among the traditional council of Obas in the state,” he added.
He further noted that despite the leadership vacuum, the forum had continued to support the community in areas such as healthcare, security and education to cushion the effects of the crisis.
