Akirun Obaship: Osun APC Knocks High Chief Over Inflammatory Remarks on Settled Akinrun Obaship Tussle

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned the Eesa of Ikirunland, High Chief Kareem Adetoyese, against what it described as reckless and inflammatory utterances capable of plunging the ancient town of Ikirun into another avoidable crisis over the already decided Akinrun obaship matter.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, the party warned that careless statements on a sensitive issue such as kingship, particularly one that has been settled by law and due process, could rekindle tensions that once disrupted peace in the headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area.

The APC recalled that Governor Ademola Adeleke, through what it termed the controversial Executive Order 5 of 2022, interfered with the lawful selection and installation of Oba Yunus Olalekan Akadiri as the Akinrun of Ikirunland—an action that has continued to generate needless controversy.

The party’s reaction followed remarks credited to the Eesa of Ikirunland during Governor Adeleke’s condolence visit to Ikirun on Saturday, where the governor paid respects to the families of the late head of Ikirun princes, Dr Ismahil Adeyemi; the Asiwaju of Ikirunland, DIG Lawal Kasali (rtd); and the Chief Imam of Ikirunland, Sheikh Yunus Balogun.

While welcoming the governor, the Eesa allegedly accused the immediate-past administration of neglecting Ikirun and politicising the obaship issue, while commending the Adeleke administration for restoring peace and reviving development in the town.

According to the APC, the statements attributed to Adetoyese were not only uncharitable and untruthful but also a gross distortion of facts aimed at currying favour with the governor.

“It is a dangerous misrepresentation for the Eesa of Ikirunland to claim that the immediate-past administration set the town on fire,” the APC said. “Right-thinking members of the society have not forgotten the ignoble roles played by foot soldiers loyal to the Eesa during the obaship crisis, which culminated in violence, destruction of the Akinrun’s palace, and the loss of innocent lives.”

The party described it as an insult to the collective intelligence of the people of Ikirun for facts to be twisted in an attempt to rewrite history, stressing that truth would always prevail over falsehood.

“In a saner society,” the statement added, “the Eesa would have been held accountable for his alleged complicity in the breakdown of law and order that rocked Ikirun during the crisis, particularly when his preferred candidate—who reportedly received only his lone vote—lost the contest among the seven kingmakers.”

The APC warned that should there be any resurgence of violence in Ikirun arising from provocative statements on the obaship issue, security agencies would know where responsibility lies.

The party reiterated that Oba Yunus Olalekan Akadiri emerged as Akinrun through a transparent and lawful process, having polled six out of the seven votes cast by accredited kingmakers. His emergence, it noted, followed established chieftaincy regulations and was duly ratified by the presentation of a certificate of installation and staff of office by the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

Records show that no fewer than 21 princes contested the vacant stool, and the process that produced Oba Akadiri was conducted in line with the judgement of an Osun State High Court presided over by Justice Jide Falola. The court ruled that the next ruling house after Gboleru was entitled to produce candidates, following the failure of the Gboleru ruling house to present a consensus candidate within the time stipulated by law.

The APC further reminded the public that the Oyetola-led administration consistently waited for the conclusion of litigations before approving the installation of monarchs across the state, in strict adherence to due process.

On development, the party rejected claims of neglect under the previous administration, noting that about 70 per cent of the Osogbo–Ikirun–Ila–Odo road rehabilitation project had been completed before Oyetola left office, stressing that governance is a continuum.

It also praised the fiscal discipline of the former administration, stating that despite receiving significantly lower allocations over four years compared to what the current government has received in two, Oyetola’s government executed projects across towns and villages in the state.

The APC concluded by referencing the nullification of the controversial White Paper on chieftaincy matters by the court on January 30, 2025, in Oba Famodun v. Osun State Government, describing the judgement as a reaffirmation of the rule of law.

e-SIGNED

Mogaji Kola Olabisi

Osun State APC Director of Media and Information