Koka kingship row: Adeleke orders probe before vacation

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has commenced a vacation in Europe, where he is expected to combine rest with medical checks.

The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, saying Mr Adeleke would spend time in the United Kingdom and other destinations that would be announced later.

Mr Rasheed quoted the governor as saying, “I am taking a short break to refresh and get further prepared to serve the good people of Osun State.”

Probe into chieftaincy dispute

Despite being away from the state, Governor Adeleke directed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to investigate a disputed kingship in Koka Ilase, Obokun Local Government Area.

The directive followed reports that another monarch had been appointed for the town, raising concerns over the existence of two competing kings.

Mr Adeleke ordered the ministry to review the circumstances surrounding the reported appointment and issue a report clarifying the situation.

“I read of another King appointed outside the one on the stool. The ministry is hereby directed to look into the dispute and issue a report to set the records straight,” he said.

Adeleke seeks calm

The governor urged all parties and residents involved in the dispute to remain peaceful while the investigation is ongoing.

“I, however, urge all stakeholders to remain peaceful as the ministry does the needful,” Mr Adeleke said.

He stressed that traditional rulership was governed by established laws and customs, assuring stakeholders that the government would follow due process.

“Kingship is governed by extant laws and regulations, and the government will stand by the law and tradition of our people,” he added.

The intervention comes against the backdrop of several chieftaincy disputes across Osun State, some of which have previously spilled into legal battles.

In May, the Court of Appeal restrained Mr Adeleke from taking further steps concerning the Akirun of Ikirun stool pending determination of an appeal, while directing parties to maintain the status quo.

The latest directive therefore places emphasis on resolving the Koka Ilase dispute through the existing legal and traditional framework, while seeking to prevent tensions from escalating in the community.

For residents of Koka Ilase, the investigation is expected to clarify who is legally and traditionally recognised as the town’s monarch and prevent competing claims from becoming a source of conflict.

The state government has also appealed for restraint as the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs examines the circumstances surrounding the disputed appointment.