Community leaders and stakeholders in Idogun land, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, have appealed to the state government to approve the appointment of a regent to oversee traditional affairs following a prolonged leadership vacuum in the community’s stool.
In a five-page petition addressed to the governor through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the leaders said the absence of a functional traditional ruler since October 2025 had created administrative and cultural uncertainty in the community.
They also urged government to allow quarter heads to administer their respective domains pending the outcome of an ongoing administrative panel of inquiry set up by the state government.
According to the petition, the community has been without a sitting Oba for over six months following a court order reportedly restraining the monarch from entering the community, a development which has left the stool effectively inactive.
The leaders, however, alleged that the embattled monarch, Oba Ekundayo Bakare, continues to parade himself as the Onidogun of Idogun, a claim the community says is heightening tension.
“We cannot continue to have a leadership vacuum. It is against our culture and tradition,” the petition stated, adding that the situation required urgent government intervention to prevent a breakdown of order.
The stakeholders further alleged that Oba Bakare had become unacceptable to a majority of indigenes after nearly two decades on the throne, claiming that his continued presence could trigger unrest in the community.
They urged the government to fast-track the findings of the panel of inquiry, noting that several memoranda—said to be about 49—had already been submitted to the committee by various groups in the community.
The panel had reportedly visited Idogun in January 2026 for fact-finding and conducted a public hearing where submissions and evidence were received.
Among allegations raised in the memoranda, the community accused the monarch of setting up an unauthorised vigilante group known as “Palace Boys,” which was allegedly used to harass perceived opponents.
Other claims include alleged seizure of livestock for ritual purposes without compensation, as well as alleged involvement of palace aides in unlawful activities, including intimidation and collection of money from suspected illicit operators.
The monarch has not publicly responded to these specific allegations in the petition cited.
The community leaders insisted that peace had improved in the absence of the monarch from the community since October 2025, and urged the state government to prioritise stability and collective interest in its final decision.
They warned that delay in resolving the matter could jeopardise the prevailing calm in Idogun land, while reiterating their call for the appointment of a regent pending the conclusion of government investigations.
