NEW DEJI GETS STAFF OF OFFICE, PROMISES GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVT
Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko
Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has assured the people of the state that his administration would continue to maintain dignified neutrality in the process of filling any vacant stool since every community owns it a responsibility to determine who should lead them. Mimiko gave the assurance yesterday while presenting instrument of office to the new Deji of Akureland, Oba Adebiyi Adesida.
Oba Adesida became the 46th Akure's monarch of Akure after the deposition of Oba Oluwadare Adepoju, who was sacked for beating up his wife in public.
Oba Adesida, an academic, was declared new Akure monarch on Thursday after winning majority votes of the kingmakers.
Mimiko, while presenting instrument of office to the new monarch, expressed disgust on how some communities in the state have been unduly engrossed with chieftaincy matters and concomitant struggles and tussles for succession.
His words: 'Chieftaincy matters and concomitant struggles and tussles for succession are an unwholesome development that has never attracted progress to the affected communities.'
He maintained that the role of government to ratify the choice of the people conforms to the provisions of all extant laws and regulations, whose principle, he said, had accounted for the enduring peace that is being enjoyed on chieftaincy matters.
The governor urged the new monarch to ensure that every segment of Akure community was carried along in the spirit of moving the town forward, while he should exercise restraint and justice by shunning all forms of impartiality in the employment of the powers vested in him as Deji of Akure.
While responding, Oba Adesida was full of thanks to the state government and kingmakers.
He said: 'It is in this regard that I promise fervently to set in motion a continuum that encompasses productive collaboration with the governor and his executives to ensure conflict prevention, management and resolution along with liaison and networking at the local, national and international levels,' Oba Adesida said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Akure Kingmakers and Odopetu of Akure, High Chief Michael Falade, who had earlier opposed the selection of Oba Adebiyi Adesida, has recanted his earlier stance.
He was not only present at the presentation of instrument of office for Oba Adesida but told journalists that contrary to earlier reports, majority of the kingmakers voted for the selection of the monarch. His action had laid to rest the controversy over the selection process of Deji of Akureland.
He had earlier stated that one of the candidates who vied for the stool, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, got the highest votes.
But Falade, shortly after the presentation of staff of office to the new Deji, said: 'Well, I can assure you, the state government and all my fellow kingmakers that majority of the kingmakers voted for the new Deji, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, who was given staff of office today. We are going to unite behind him.
'So, there will be no problem. There will be no rancour. There will be no court case, no crisis. They should support the Deji. We made all the contestants to enter into an undertaking at the beginning of the selection process that none of them will foment trouble when the winner eventually emerges. And this is our stance.'