Osun Amends Chieftaincy Declaration To End Akire Stool Crisis

By Odunola Akinbode

The State Government of Osun has amended Ikire Chieftaincy Declaration of 1958, in a bid to permanently settle the crisis surrounding Akire stool in Irewole Local Government Council of the State of Osun.

With the amendment of the declaration, the Aketula ruling house will succeed Oba Olatunde Falabi of Lambeloye ruling house whenever he joins his ancestors.

There have been serious crises on the Akire stool that had claimed lives and properties, with Aketula Ruling House challenging Oba Falabi on the ground that he was not entitled to the stool, according to the provisions of the Ikire Chieftaincy Declaration of 1958.

However, the State Government of Osun, on Monday, approved the amendment of the chieftaincy declaration at the State Executive Council meeting.

Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, stated this in a press statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Monday.

The statement reads in part: “The Council’s approval of the amendment of the Ikire Chieftaincy Declaration was necessitated by the lingering crisis generated by the Supreme Court judgment of 2014, which affirmed that Lambeloye ruling house that produced Oba Olatunde Falabi, had no legal right to occupy the stool of Akire of Ikire when it became vacant in 1987.

“The ancient town had been embroiled in crisis that saw the royal stool entangled in legal and social upheavals. Governor Adegboyega Oyetola stepped in, determined that the problem had gone on long enough. His intervention eventually brought about a resolution and joint agreement by the five ruling houses of Ikire to adjust the rotational order established by the 1958 Akire Chieftaincy Declaration, to afford the Aketula ruling house produce a candidate for the stool when it becomes vacant.