Residents Beg Aiyedatiwa To End Lingering Kingship Crisis In Ondo Community

Residents of Ifon Community in Ose local government area of Ondo State have appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene in the protracted kingship crisis rocking the town following the death of the former Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi.

Suspected gunmen killed the late monarch on Owo–Ifon Expressway in November 2020, leaving the traditional stool vacant and triggering a succession crisis among the ruling houses in the ancient community.

Since the monarch’s death, disagreements over the selection process for a new Olufon have led to several court cases, preventing the emergence of a new traditional ruler for more than five years.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the chairman of the Ifon Improvement Forum (IIF), Maj-Gen. Benjamin Badewole (rtd), urged the state government to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the crisis urgently.

Badewole said the prolonged absence of a monarch had negatively affected social, cultural and commercial activities in the community.

He recalled that the administration of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had assured the community that the legacy of the late monarch would be preserved by installing a new king within a short period.

He said, “We are here to make a special plea to the Governor of Ondo State, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to assist us in resolving the Olufon-Oba chieftaincy impasse.

‎”Let me start by saying that the late Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adegoke Adeusi, was killed by some unknown gunmen on 26 November 2020.

His death caused a lot of trauma because he was a revered king.

‎”As a matter of fact, immediately the ugly incident happened, Akeredolu paid a condolence visit to the community. The Ondo State Government entered into a covenant to preserve the legacy of the Olufon. According to them, one way to preserve this legacy was to give us a king as quickly as possible.

‎”But five and a half years down the line, Ifon does not have an Oba. Permit me to say that following the burial, we, the elite of Ifon, thought we should not allow things to remain the way they are.”

‎The retired general blamed the lingering crisis on disagreements among the ruling houses and the growing mistrust generated by the succession process.

‎He explained that efforts by stakeholders and socio-cultural groups to broker peace had been frustrated by litigations instituted by aggrieved ruling houses.

‎He stressed that members of the Ifon Improvement Forum were not interested in contesting for the throne but were committed to restoring peace, unity and traditional representation for the town.

‎He added that despite the leadership vacuum, the forum had continued to support the community through interventions in healthcare, education and security.