Aiyedatiwa presents Staff of Office to Oba Adu as Alale of Akungba
After years of legal battles and decades of chieftaincy disputes, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on Saturday, August 30, 2025, presented the Staff of Office to His Royal Majesty, Oba Isiaka Oseni Adu, as the Alale of Akungba Akoko in Ondo State.
The governor asserted that the recognition of Oba Adu marked the culmination of a long-drawn struggle for justice and the restoration of peace in the community. He explained that Adu had obtained favorable judgments at all levels of the judicial process.
Although it was the turn of the Olugbade Ruling House to produce the next monarch after the passing of Oba Sunday Adeyeye Ajimo in March 2025, Aiyedatiwa said government had to respect court rulings validating Adu’s claim. He stressed that the decision was not an endorsement of any ruling house but a step to reconcile factions within the Ole Ruling House.
Appealing for calm, the governor urged the Olugbade family to exercise patience, assuring that government remained neutral in all chieftaincy matters. He congratulated the new monarch, charging him to embrace his role as a father to all and to use the staff of office to strengthen peace and unity.
The governor also highlighted his administration’s developmental strides, including the reconstruction of the Akungba–Ikare Road into a dual carriageway, flood mitigation measures, and relocation of roadside traders to the Atiba Market for safety. He reaffirmed his commitment to security through the strengthening of the Amotekun Corps.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, praised the governor’s respect for due process in resolving the tussle. Similarly, Chairman of Akoko South West Local Government, Hon. Ayo Ajana, described the event as the dawn of peace and thanked the governor for landmark projects in the area.
In his remarks, Oba Adu expressed gratitude to God and the state government for making his installation possible. He commended Aiyedatiwa for upholding the Supreme Court judgment on the Alale chieftaincy matter.
The monarch described the occasion as historic, noting it fulfilled the aspiration of the Agure royal family since 1951. He pledged to prioritize unity and development of the community during his reign.
