Our attention has been drawn to a Press Statement purportedly emanating from the Palace of the Deji of Akure.
We noted, in particular, the choice of language employed against the Omowas of Isikan headed by Pa. Durojaye Ariyo, a centenarian who has successfully trained notable lawyers, engineers, and journalists from his sweat without getting one contract or patronage from government and who still moves about without the need for a walking-aide at over one hundred years.
Even though our first impulse was to simply ignore the press statement as the antics of someone clutching at straws since our Oba-Elect Oluwagbemiga Adimula Arulewolasi III is undergoing all necessary traditional rites as the Iralepo of Isikan with the full support of the Isikan people, we deemed it expedient for the sake of the observers to put lies to the desperation of those who seek to colonize their peers in the 21st century. And because our leaders are genuine blue blood, we will not resort to gutter language as the Deji’s Press Release has done, we will instead respond solely to serious issues that were obviously calculated to deceive the public.
- The Deji of Akure is the paramount ruler over Akure. He is thus in charge of deciding who gets what within his dominion only.
- The Isikan throne is not part of Akure. While civilization and growth may have blurred our boundaries, Isikan remains an autonomous community with its separate customs and traditions and prescribing authority. The status of the Isikan throne and its Chieftaincy have been decided by the Ondo State Executive Council, the only authority vested with such a power and the Iralepo of Isikan is the Prescribing Authority over chieftaincy matters in Isikan. If the Iralepo of Isikan wants to be an Oba in Akure, yes, he would need the consent of the Deji of Akure. But the Iralepo of Isikan does not want to be an Oba in Akure. He is satisfied with being an Oba in Isikan as his forefathers have been in the past 6,000 years since the time of Obara up to the time of Oluroko on the Oroko dynasty and up to the time of Ora on the Oralopo dynasty. The Iralepo of Isikan is satisfied with being the Oba of Isikan as the Ondo State Executive Council has so affirmed in this modern time. By that formal recognition by the Ondo State Government, Isikan is not a quarter in Akure as is the fantasy of the Deji and his people. Rather, Isikan is a section in Akure South Local Government just like Owu, Gbagura, Oke-ona, and Ibara are sections in Abeokuta under their individual and separate chieftaincy institutions distinct from the Alake.
- On the matter of a purported letter from the immediate past Iralepo of Isikan to the Deji of Akure to lift a supposed suspension placed on Iralepo, such a letter simply further exposes the level of stark ignorance and desperation in driving this unnecessary expansionist agenda and it is a shame. For clarity, the letter was ostensibly addressed to Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II. This implies that such a letter could only have been authored between 2015 and February 2021 because Aladetoyinbo only became the Deji of Akure in 2015. The position of the Iralepo of Isikan as the statutory traditional ruler of Isikan under the Iralepo of Isikan Chieftaincy as formally recognized by the Ondo State Executive Council became effective in 2005. In the eyes of the law and the Supreme Court judgment that the Deji has continually referred to, having a traditional ruler under a distinct, different, and adequate government recognized chieftaincy proclamation begged to be absorbed under a neghouring chieftaincy declaration as an inferior is mere comic excursion that could only pander to the ego and whims of the orchestrator.
- Also, the claim that the late Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida suspended the Iralepo of Isikan is also similar wishful thinking as Oba Adebiyi Adesida would only have been exercising a power he did not possess by suspending a fellow Oba under a distinct, separate, and government recognized traditional institution! This is because Oba Adebiyi Adesida did not become the Deji of Akure until 2010, five years after the Iralepo of Isinkan’s separate Chieftaincy had been formally recognized by the Ondo State Executive Council. Any such action by Oba Adebiyi would have been pure voyeurism and politically aided maneuvers.
- Before he joined his ancestors, Oba Olu Ojo Arulewolasi II did inform the people of Isikan that he attended Akure South Council of Chiefs meetings with the Deji of Akure and his chiefs. This is the correct thing to do as a Peace and Progress loving traditional ruler. If the Deji of Akure and his people decide to equate that love-driven gesture of Oba Olu Ojo as an acceptance to get demoted and exit his very own government recognized Chieftaincy and his ancestral throne to take up an inferior position under the Deji’s chieftaincy, well the average observer would easily detect that somebody is attempting to be clever by half.
We hereby appeal to all sons and daughters of Isikan to stand firm. Nobody has a monopoly on violence.
The Deji of Akure can continue to wish or dream in his palace of a plot to conquer and annex Isinkan, but it shall remain a mere ludicrous and abhorrent fantasy.
We pledge our unalloyed support to our Oba-elect, Kabiyesi Oluwagbemiga Adimula Arulewolasi III, the Iralepo of Isikan to the glory of God.
Signed
Olawaye Adeduti
Head of Media
Isikan Development Association
26th October 2021.