The supremacy battle going on between two traditional rulers in Ondo State, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi and Iralepo of Isinkan, Oba Olugbenga Ajimokunola, is yet to come to an end.
The two monarchs have been at loggerheads for some years now over traditional hierarchy which seems to be getting deeper.
It started after Ajimokunola stopped regarding Deji of Akure as his superior. He was formerly a quarter chief but was upgraded to the position of a traditional ruler. A quarter chief presides over minor disputes and oversees part of a community but they are under the authority and leadership of a traditional ruler.
The supremacy battle has lingered for some years and has had the court stepping in to resolve it. The Supreme Court and Appeal court gave Deji of Akure the sole authority over lesser chiefs and Oba’s but Ajimokunola has refused to submit to his authority.
The two monarchs had in time past quarreled over appointment of community leaders, closure of markets and other trivial issues. The duo renewed their beef again while engaging in a land dispute.
Ajimokunola accused the Deji of Akure of harassing and arresting workers on his father’s farmland with thugs and security men. According to him, his farm workers were taken to Deji of Akure’s palace and were beaten and tortured.
The traditional ruler petitioned the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, the state commissioner of police and other security agencies on the matter and appealed to them to fish out the culprits.
He also stated that the the government should find a lasting solution to the constant dispute between him and the Deji of Akure which is fast affecting the peace of their communities.
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