Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has presented the Staff of Office to His Royal Majesty, Oba Isiaka Oseni Adu, formally installing him as the Alale of Akungba Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area.

The ceremony, held on Saturday, 30 August 2025, marked the end of decades of legal and chieftaincy disputes that divided the ancient town.

Governor Aiyedatiwa described the installation as “the culmination of a long-drawn struggle for justice and restoration of peace in the community.”

“It is only logical to allow His Royal Majesty, who obtained favourable judgments at all levels of the judicial processes, to enjoy the benefits of his legal victory in the best interest of fair play, equity, and justice,” the Governor declared.

Court Victory and Government’s Neutrality

The governor clarified that though the Olugbade Ruling House was due to produce the next monarch after the passing of Oba Sunday Adeyeye Ajimo in March 2025, the state government had to respect existing court rulings in favour of Oba Adu.

He stressed that the government remained neutral in the matter:

“This is not an expression of government’s preference for any ruling house whatsoever, but an action taken in the overall best interest of peace and tranquility in Akungba community.”

He appealed to the Olugbade Ruling House to exercise patience and assured that the decision was not meant to sideline any family.

Charge to the New Monarch

Congratulating Oba Adu, Governor Aiyedatiwa reminded him of the weight of his new responsibility.

“Kabiyesi, you are now a father to all. You must see your ascension to the throne as a service to your people. The staff of office should be employed to strengthen peace, unity, and cohesion of your town, not to victimize perceived opponents,” he cautioned.

Development and Security Assurances

Governor Aiyedatiwa used the occasion to highlight developmental projects in the region. These included the reconstruction of the Akungba–Ikare Road into a dual carriageway and measures to tackle flooding. He restated that roadside traders must relocate to Atiba Market for safety.

On security, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property through the Amotekun Corps and other security agencies.

Community Leaders Applaud Decision

Ondo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, praised the governor for his respect for due process and fairness in resolving the prolonged dispute.

Similarly, Chairman of Akoko South West Local Government, Hon. Ayo Ajana, said the installation marked “the dawn of a new threshold” for Akungba, thanking the governor for both peace restoration and key projects, including the dual carriageway and 5km road projects across local governments.

Monarch Expresses Gratitude

In his remarks, Oba Isiaka Oseni Adu expressed gratitude to God and the state government.

“I lack human words to fully express my profound gratitude to the Almighty Father for making this day a reality. I am equally indebted to the Executive Governor of Ondo State for upholding the Supreme Court judgment on the Alale chieftaincy matter, which has culminated in my installation as the Alale of Akungba today,” he said.

The monarch described the event as historic, noting that it fulfilled the long-standing aspirations of the Agure royal family since 1951. He pledged to prioritize unity and development during his reign.

The Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, is celebrating a historic moment following the emergence of Prince Bankole Adeyefa, its Chief Procurement Officer and acting Head of Procurement Unit, as the Elemure-elect of Emure-Ile Kingdom in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Vice-Chancellor leads tributes

In a congratulatory message, OAUSTECH Vice-Chancellor, Professor Temi Ologunorisa, described Prince Adeyefa’s selection as a reflection of his “leadership qualities, wisdom, and dedication to the development of his kingdom.”

Professor Ologunorisa, a professor of Climate Science, added:

“Prince Adeyefa’s emergence as a first-class monarch-elect is a significant attainment, not just for him but for our university community. I am confident that his reign will bring prosperity, peace, and progress to the people of Emure-Ile Kingdom. I pray that his coronation comes soon, and that his reign will be long, peaceful, and prosperous.”

Staff and community applaud the milestone

The news of Adeyefa’s royal elevation has been met with excitement across the Emure-Ile community and within OAUSTECH, where he is respected for his academic and administrative accomplishments.

Prince Bankole Adesayo, a close associate of the monarch-elect, said he was not surprised by the outcome of the selection process.

“Prince Adeyefa has what it takes to lead his people and bring about rapid development of the kingdom,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Paul Adeagbo, OAUSTECH’s Deputy Director of Information, Protocol and Public Relations, described him as a man with “tenacity of purpose and unwavering commitment to achieve anything he sets his mind to.” He expressed confidence that such traits would enable the monarch-elect to “transform his kingdom quickly.”

Leadership qualities recognised

Mr. Fredrick Fasonranti, Chief Internal Auditor at OAUSTECH, also extended his congratulations, noting:

“Prince Adeyefa is highly educated and well connected. These qualities will help him foster unity and progress in his domain.”

For Mr. Kunle Akinwonmi, Chairman of the Non-academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) at OAUSTECH, the selection was a landmark achievement for the university’s union.

“Seeing one of our members attain such a height during my tenure is remarkable. It is a notable development for the union,” he said.

Anticipation builds for coronation

The people of Emure-Ile Kingdom are eagerly awaiting the coronation, which many believe will usher in a new era of development, unity, and prosperity. Within OAUSTECH, the mood remains celebratory, as colleagues laud Prince Adeyefa’s rise from university administrator to monarch-elect.

His journey, staff say, is not only a personal triumph but also an inspiration for the academic community and a testament to the deep ties between scholarship, leadership, and traditional governance in Nigeria.

The long-running supremacy tussle between two foremost Yoruba monarchs, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, deepened on Wednesday after the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin.

The monarch had demanded that the Ooni revoke the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title conferred on Ibadan businessman, Engr Dotun Sanusi. With the deadline now over, the Alaafin’s palace has indicated plans to publish what it described as a Supreme Court ruling affirming his authority over pan-Yoruba chieftaincy titles.

Alaafin insists on supremacy

The Alaafin, through his media aide, Mr Bode Durojaiye, maintained that only his stool holds the authority to bestow titles bearing the “Yorubaland” designation.

“The Alaafin will not tolerate a breach of the Supreme Court’s pronouncement on this matter. The Ooni’s powers are limited to the former Oranmiyan Local Government Area, now split into Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South,” the statement read.

Sources from the Oyo palace confirmed that the monarch had met with senior chiefs to deliberate on releasing the ruling, which he believes affirms his position as “emperor and ruler of the Yoruba race.”

Atóbaáse backs Alaafin’s position

The Atóbaáse of Yorubaland, Babajide Agunbiade, threw his weight behind the Alaafin, stressing his political and historical supremacy.

He said: “The Alaafin’s role as paramount ruler is indisputable. While the Ooni remains revered as custodian of Yoruba spiritual heritage, the Alaafin’s authority stems from the Oyo Empire, whose reach once extended across Yorubaland, Dahomey, Offa and parts of Kogi State.

“The issuance of Yoruba-wide titles is a prerogative reserved for the Alaafin, as the Emperor and ruler of the Yoruba people.”

Agunbiade further advised the monarch to consider legal action against what he described as the Ooni’s overreach.

Legal counter: ‘No Supreme Court backing’

But a prominent Abuja-based lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, dismissed the Alaafin’s claims, insisting that no such ruling of the apex court exists.

“With the greatest respect, the oft-cited Supreme Court decision that purportedly vested Alaafin authority now exaggerated must be properly confined to its facts,” he said.

“Judicial pronouncements are case-specific, and no ratio decidendi of that Court has ever declared the Alaafin the sole custodian of Yoruba legitimacy. No statute in any Yoruba-speaking state vests exclusive authority in the Alaafin to confer titles of pan-Yoruba significance, and the Court cannot by judicial fiat extend such jurisdiction.

“The law is clear, history is unambiguous, and jurisprudence is settled. The Ooni of Ife has not usurped power; he has exercised it intra vires—lawfully, historically, and culturally. He remains the ancestral father of the Yoruba nation, and his competence to confer honours symbolic of unity is beyond reproach.”

Olajengbesi urged the Alaafin to seek proper counsel, noting that Ile-Ife is universally recognised as the cradle of the Yoruba people.

Tensions rising in Yorubaland

The controversy erupted after the Ooni conferred the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on Sanusi, an influential Ibadan businessman and philanthropist.

While the Alaafin views the action as a breach of his authority, the Ooni’s supporters insist that his ancestral and spiritual role gives him the right to confer honours of pan-Yoruba significance.

The unfolding dispute has reignited debate over the historical balance of power between the two revered stools.

Observers now await whether the Alaafin will indeed release the court ruling and whether the matter could escalate into a legal and cultural showdown within Yorubaland.