The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has warned against alleged inflammatory statements over the Akinrun of Ikirun chieftaincy dispute.
It cautioned the Eesa of Ikirunland, High Chief Kareem Adetoyese, to avoid plunging the ancient town into another avoidable crisis through reckless and inflammatory utterances concerning the already decided Akinrun obaship tussle, which has lingered since the inception of the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration.
The governor, through the controversial Executive Order 5, tampered with the lawful selection and subsequent appointment of Oba Yunus Olalekan Akadiri as the Akinrun of Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State.
Adeleke was in Ikirun on Saturday during condolence visits to the families of the departed Head of Ikirun Princes, Dr. Ismahil Adeyemi; the Asiwaju of Ikirun, DIG Lawal Kasali; and the Chief Imam of Ikirun, Sheikh Yunus Balogun.
Welcoming the governor, the Eesa of Ikirun criticised the immediate past Gboyega Oyetola APC administration, alleging neglect of the town, while commending Governor Adeleke for restoring peace and reviving development in Ikirun following the violence of mid-2022.
According to Adetoyese: “Your Excellency, we appreciate these condolence visits. This is a continuous demonstration of your love for Ikirun since you assumed office. We must speak of your good deeds as a leader who saved Ikirun from violence and underdevelopment.
“We cannot forget how the previous administration relegated Ikirun and denied us opportunities.
“The previous government set Ikirun on fire through the politicisation of kingship matters. Your executive order saved us.
“We recorded casualties before you came in. I was forced into exile for months. The governor rescued us from premeditated violence and killings. Many died during the fracas.”
But the APC said the statement credited to the Eesa was “inflammatory, reckless, uncharitable, and grossly untruthful, and is capable of reigniting tensions that had previously threatened the peace of Ifelodun Local Government Area over the now-settled enthronement of Oba Akadiri as the lawful Akinrun of Ikirun.
‘It is a blatant misrepresentation of facts for Adetoyese to accuse the immediate past administration of setting Ikirun on fire, when the ignoble roles played by his foot soldiers in destabilising the town during the obaship crisis remain fresh in the memory of right-thinking members of society.
“It is an insult to the collective sensibility of the good people of Ikirun for the Eesa to deliberately distort facts surrounding the crisis merely to curry favour with the governor, an attempt that has clearly backfired, as truth will always prevail over falsehood.
“In any sane society, Adetoyese should by now be answering questions over his alleged complicity in the disturbance of public peace in Ikirun, the destruction of the Akinrun’s palace, and the killing of innocent natives, following the defeat of his preferred candidate who secured only one vote out of the seven kingmakers during the obaship selection process.
“Should there be another breakdown of law and order in Ikirunland arising from the Eesa’s reckless utterances, the police and other statutory security agencies should know where responsibility lies.
“It is baffling how the Eesa has conveniently forgotten that Oba Yunus Olalekan Akadiri emerged through the laid-down procedure, having polled six out of seven votes cast by the duly constituted kingmakers—an outcome that overwhelmingly endorsed his selection.
“He has also forgotten that the immediate-past Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, duly presented the staff of office and certificate of installation to Oba Akadiri, following a selection exercise conducted in strict compliance with the Chieftaincy Regulations.
“Records show that no fewer than 21 princes contested for the vacant stool of the Akinrun, and the transparent selection process produced Oba Akadiri with the support of six kingmakers. His emergence was subsequently conveyed to the state government through the Ifelodun Local Government authorities, culminating in his lawful installation.
“It bears restating that Oba Akadiri’s emergence was in line with the judgment of an Osun State High Court presided over by Justice Jide Falola, which ruled that the next ruling house after Gboleru was entitled to present candidates for the stool following the failure of the Gboleru ruling house to produce a consensus candidate within the time stipulated by law—a judgment the current administration chose to disregard.
“We also remind the public that the Oyetola administration had achieved over 70 per cent completion of its designated segment of the Osogbo–Ikirun–Ila-Odo road rehabilitation project, in line with the principle that governance is a continuum.
“The good people of Osun State remain appreciative of the prudence and financial discipline of the Oyetola administration, which, despite receiving far less allocation over four years than the current administration has received in two years, touched all towns and villages across the state.
“Furthermore, that administration patiently waited for litigation to be concluded before approving the installation of monarchs, having followed due process—a discipline lacking in the present government.
Little wonder the court nullified the obnoxious White Paper on 30th January, 2025, in Oba Famodun v. Osun State Government. May the soul of Oba Famodun continue to rest in peace.”
