The Deji of Akure Kingdom in Ondo State, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, has called on sons and daughters of Akure-speaking communities to embrace peace and unity for the development of the area.

The first-class monarch lamented that his major challenge on the throne was litigations over the paramouncy of his throne among other communities in the kingdom, disclosing that there were over 100 cases in court on various matters against him.

Oba Aladelusi stated this at his palace in Akure, the state capital, on Friday, during an interactive session with journalists as part of the activities to mark his 10th coronation anniversary.

The Akure monarch, who was the former chairman of the state Council of Obas, declared that he was the prescribed authority over all Akure-speaking communities in the three local governments of Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore.

He said, “For the past 10 years, we have challenges. As a number, we have more than 100 cases now in court. Everywhere, everybody, those who are trying to get our demands, those who say that Deji is not the prescribed authority over this, over that, you know.

“I believe anybody, any community that’s speaking Akure dialect is Akure. If you go to Akure North, Akure South, Ifedore, they all speaks Akure. Akure speaking communities is Akure. And who is the prescribed authority? It is the Deji. It has been there from time, I’m not trying to just put myself on top of anybody.

“When I got to the throne 10years ago, I went to all the Akure communities and told the traditional rulers that we should all come together, they should not compete with Deji. It’s just like me competing with Ooni or Oyo Obas, people will just be laughing.

When we came from Ife, nobody gave Deji staff of office, we brought it from Ife. We were Deji from Ife and we were ruling before governors started. It was the colonial masters that took away the kingship from us. So Deji has been paramount ruler from Ife.

“When we started we put Iju, Ogbolu, Ijare and others there, they are the sons of Deji. Now anybody from Akure North or Akure South can’t compete with Deji. God will help us come together. If we have one voice, we will do something better. Akure has the number, if we put our hands together, we will achieve great things.”

Oba Aladelusi also expressed his wish for an Akure indigene to become the next governor of the state but noting that lack of unity among Akure communities had been preventing them from producing the governor of the state.

“Everybody wants his son to be governor. There is no unity among Akure speaking communities, if we have that, we would have been governor long time ago. But the next governor of Ondo State will be from Akure. If I say Akure, I mean anybody from whether Akure North, South or Ifedore, all is Akure,” he stressed. (The PUNCH)