Palpable tension has gripped the agarian ldanre community, in ldanre council area of Ondo state, over the filling of the vacant stool of Owa of ldanre.

Recall that the late Owa of Idanre, Oba Fredrick Adegunle Aroloye, joined his ancestors in December, 2024.

The family of the late monarch, Oba Aroloye, through their lawyer, Akinyemi Omoware, in a letter to the state government, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, requested that the state governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa should call the Local government and Chieftaincy commissioner, Alhaji Amidu Takuro to order and to adhere to the extant Registered Chieftaincy Declaration of Owa of Idanre.

Omoware said that in the letter that “

upon the demise of Owa of Idanre, HRM Late Oba Fredrick Adegunle Aroloye, sometimes in December, 2024, the Ruling house communicated the same to the Ondo State Government and sought the approval of the Government to commence the filling of the vacancy created by the demise.

” In response to the request, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, through a letter dated 4th June, 2025 with reference no: CD/C.4T/26 directed the Chairman, Idanre Local Government Area, Owena to communicate the Government approval to the Ruling House/Kingmakers to commence the process of selecting a new Owa of Idanre in line with the Registered Chieftaincy Declaration of Owa of Idanre and the Government White Paper on the Morgan Chieftaincy Review Commission of 1981.

” The letter with its attached Registered Declaration and White Paper are attached for ease of reference.

“Please be informed that by the above stated Registered Declaration and the White Paper on the Morgan Chieftaincy Review Commission, the stool of Owa of Idanre has only one ruling house; called the Owa’s House.

“By the combined effect of the Registered Declaration and the White Paper, an extant condition stated as qualification for eligible applicant for the stool of Owa of Idanre is that such person must be the Son of a previous holder of the title of Owa of Idanre.

“The other condition stated in the Declaration has been abrogated by the White Paper.

“The Declaration recognized 12 kingmakers and by the provisions of the Chiefs Law, the quorum of the kingmaker is a simple majority of the kingmakers.

“From the directive of the Government as conveyed in the letter under reference, the Local Government is directed to ensure that due process in line with the Registered Declaration and the provisions of the Chiefs Law are complied with.

” It is only in line with this directive that enduring peace that has long existed in the ancient town of Idanre can be sustained.

“Mr. Governor, please be informed that contrary to the clear, unambiguous and seamless provisions of the Registered Declaration, some agents of the government; particular at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are conniving with and or giving undue support to one Mr. Kayode Aroloye with a motive to circumventing the provisions of the Registered Declaration.

“Our above position is apt in that Mr. Kayode Aroloye is not in anyway qualify or eligible to participate and be appointed as Owa of Idanre because he is not a son of any previous holder of the title of Owa of Idanre as clearly entrenched in the Registered Declaration.

“Your Excellency, it is important to let your government know that notwithstanding the above clear and unambiguous condition, it is in the public domain that the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government is giving assurance and undue recognition to a non-eligible person of Mr. Kayode Aroloye.

” This singular attempt to foist an ineligible candidate on the Ruling House may cause crises, breach of peace and possibly lead to breakdown of law and order.

“In our opinion, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has a duty, not discretion, to ensure compliance with the extant law; ditto the Registered Declaration and the Government White Paper in respect of the stool of Owa of Idanre and the letter issued by it herein above referenced.

“Rather than adhering to this obligation, it is the opinion of our client that the Ministry is colluding with Mr. Kayode Aroloye to sideline the Registered Declaration and the White Paper; boycott the kingmakers preparatory to appointing warrant chiefs to circumvent the Registered Declaration.

“In carrying out this sinister motive, a faceless petition was written to the Ondo State Anti-Corruption Agency with a view to using its report to indict the kingmakers in other to pave the way for the appointment of warrant chiefs. This is totally strange to the Chief Law.

“By the provision of the Chiefs Law, warrant chiefs are appointed to replace deceased kingmakers ONLY where the existing kingmakers do not form quorum to carry out the selection process.

” From the 12 recognized kingmakers in the Registered Declaration, 9 kingmakers are alive and they form quorum to carry out the selection. Hence, it is needless, save for deceptive motive, to think of appointing warrant chiefs in the circumstance.

“Going by the above backdrop, it is apparent that any attempt by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs or any of her staff, agent or privies to circumvent the provisions of the law and the Registered Declaration on the Owa of Idanre stool will definitely cause unimaginable crises and breakdown of law and order in Idanre.

“It is needless to inform your Excellency that Idanre is a peaceful and law abiding community but however detest, abhor and will not condone any attempt to rewrite the history and tradition of the stool of Owa of Idanre.

” The Ministry, which is by law, saddled with the responsibility to uphold and enforce the law should not be seen contravening the same.

“Consequent upon the above, we appeal to your Excellency to call the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to order and direct her to adhere to the extant Registered Chieftaincy Declaration of Owa of Idanre.

The family noted that “It is only in this regards that enduring peace can be sustained in Idanre. We have no doubt that your Excellency will uphold the rule of law and direct the Ministry to toe the same line accordingly.

Reacting, the Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs commissioner, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, denied claims that his ministry was attempting to impose someone as king on the community, describing the accusations as “completely false and misleading.”

Takuro said that “It is important to clarify that the state government does not, and cannot, impose anyone as king in any community. Such claims are nothing but cheap blackmail aimed at discrediting the authorities,”

The Commissioner said that “All the Princes who have shown interest have visited me in the office and I have directed all of them to the kingmakers and if anybody is not eligible it is for the kingmakers and not the government. We have no hand in the selection process. (Vanguard)