By Babatunde Ayedoju

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The members of the Oluoke-in-Council and Kingmakers of Oke-Igbo, in the Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government area of Ondo State, have appealed to the State Governor, Hon. Lucky  Aiyedatiwa, to intervene in the ongoing chieftaincy dispute concerning the Oluoke of Oke-Igbo stool.

According to them, it is essential to allow the case currently before the Court of Appeal to be determined before taking any action regarding the selection of a new Oluoke.

The chiefs made this appeal during a press conference held at the Palace of the Oluoke of Oke-Igbo.

The Ojumu of Oke-Igbo, High Chief Dele Oduwale, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs, referenced Section 14, Chapter 27 of the Chieftaincy Laws of Ondo State 2016. He stated: “Where a ruling house whose turn it is to present a candidate to fill a vacancy, in accordance with Section 10, has presented a candidate who, having undergone all the processes of selection prescribed under that section, has been duly appointed chief to fill the vacancy and has performed functions as such before his candidature is subsequently annulled for whatever reason, that candidate shall be deemed to have reigned.

“It shall then be the turn of the next ruling house to present a candidate to fill the vacancy. Where there is only one ruling house, the person whose candidature has been annulled shall not be qualified to contest again.”

It will be recalled that the former Oluoke of Oke-Igbo, Oba Dr Lawrence Oluwole Babajide, from the Are Kugbayigbe ruling house, was deposed in April 2023 by the Ondo State High Court. However, he filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Akure shortly before his demise.

The kingmakers added that a motion for a stay of execution of the High Court judgement has been filed before the Court of Appeal and served on the appropriate government authorities.

“We, the Chiefs-in-Council, especially the Kingmakers, are people of integrity and law-abiding citizens. Hence, we would not do anything that could bring disrepute to the community or Ondo State at large.

“We plead with all sons and daughters of Oke-Igbo, both within and outside the community, to maintain peace during this trying time. All the challenges we face today will soon be resolved,” the chiefs stated.

The chairman of the Oluoke-in-Council, High Chief Deji Akintokunbo, called on all aggrieved parties to pursue peace, emphasising that all sons and daughters of Oke-Igbo are related and have no reason to fight one another.

Also addressing The Hope, a representative of the Kuole Oloje ruling house, Elder Ebenezer Oniwide, reiterated that it is the turn of his ruling house to produce the king, noting that the Aare Kugbayigbe ruling house has already had its turn.

“There is no history of two Obas from the same ruling house reigning consecutively. We appeal to the government to allow justice to prevail,” he said.

Okeigbo is divided into five (5) quarters: Odo Eleyowo Quarters with 20 family units; Aare Kugbayigbe Quarters with 27 family units; Kuole Oloje Quarters with 23 family units; Aderin Ologbenla Quarters with 27 family units, and Ajibike Adedimeji Quarters with 27 family units. The five Ruling Houses were named after the founders of Okeigbo as a mark of honour.