Residents of Ifon in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo have appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene in the prolonged kingship dispute following the death of the former Olufon, Israel Adeusi.
Oba Adeusi was killed by unknown gunmen along the Owo-Ifon Expressway in November 2020, and since then, disagreements among the ruling houses over succession to the Olufon stool have led to several court cases and delayed the installation of a new monarch.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the Chairman of the Ifon Improvement Forum, Benjamin Badewole, urged the governor to step in and help resolve the crisis, noting that the absence of a monarch has negatively affected social and economic activities in the town for over five years.
“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,” he said.
Badewole explained that after the monarch’s death, the community united to organise a befitting burial and expected the state government to facilitate the installation of a new king quickly.
“But five and a half years down the line, Ifon does not have an Oba,” he stated.
He lamented that attempts by community leaders to settle the issue amicably were hindered after some ruling houses instituted court cases over the selection process.
“Those other ruling houses went to court. We tried to talk to them about withdrawing their cases so we could reach a peaceful resolution. But there is a trust deficit, and it has been difficult to resolve the issues,” he added.
According to him, the Ifon Improvement Forum members are not interested in the throne but are concerned about restoring peace and ensuring the community is represented among traditional councils in the state.
Despite the crisis, he said the forum has continued supporting the community in areas such as healthcare, security, and education.
