Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed an investigation into the emerging kingship dispute in Koka-Ilase, Obokun Local Government Area, following reports that another monarch had been appointed for the community.
The governor’s directive came as he departed Nigeria for a vacation in Europe, during which he is also expected to undergo medical examinations.
A statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke departed the country through the Lagos airport and would visit the United Kingdom and other destinations during the trip.
The governor described the vacation as a short break intended to enable him to refresh and prepare for further service to the people of the state.
“I am taking a short break to refresh and get further prepared to serve the good people of Osun State,” Adeleke was quoted as saying before his departure.
Meanwhile, the governor has directed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reported appointment of another king in Koka-Ilase.
The development has reportedly raised concerns over the emergence of two claimants to the traditional stool in the community, prompting the state government to intervene.
Adeleke instructed the ministry to review the circumstances surrounding the development and establish whether due process was followed in accordance with the state’s chieftaincy laws and the traditions governing the community.
The governor said the ministry should submit a report clarifying the situation and establishing the status of the traditional stool.
“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.
He stressed that traditional rulership in the state was regulated by extant laws and established customs, adding that the government would ensure that the relevant legal and traditional procedures were followed.
Adeleke also appealed to parties and other stakeholders in the dispute to maintain peace while the government carries out its investigation.
“Kingship is governed by extant laws and regulations and the government will stand by the law and tradition of our people,” the governor stated.
The governor’s intervention came amid the reported controversy over the traditional stool of Koka-Ilase, with the state government seeking to prevent the disagreement from escalating into a wider communal dispute.
The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is now expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the reported appointment and advise the government on the appropriate steps to take.
The government’s position, according to Adeleke, is to resolve the matter through the applicable laws and traditions while ensuring that peace is maintained in the community.
The governor’s European trip will take place alongside the administrative process initiated to resolve the Koka kingship controversy, with the relevant ministry expected to conduct the probe and submit its findings.