Deji stool crisis deepens as thugs chase kingmakers

A group of thugs who stormed the meeting venue at OkeLisa Street, Akure by 9.32am provoked trepidation and apprehension around the venue, thereby frightening the people to run for their dear lives The journalists who came to cover the event also took to their heels. The thugs who were in a bus were chanting war […]

A group of thugs who stormed the meeting venue at OkeLisa Street, Akure by 9.32am provoked trepidation and apprehension around the venue, thereby frightening the people to run for their dear lives

The journalists who came to cover the event also took to their heels. The thugs who were in a bus were chanting war songs and brandishing dangerous weapons as they moved around the street.

A source said the thugs were sent from the camp of one of the contenders to the throne in order to prevent the gathering of about 17 kingmakers who had planned to mobilise market women to protest against the continued stay of the Deji of Akure, Oba Adesina Oluwadare Adepoju on the throne.

About 17 traditional kingmakers and 25 lower chiefs of Akure kingdom last week announced the removal of the Oba for violating Akure customs and traditions.

The kingmakers accused the Deji of walking out on them during a meeting in his palace just because they refused to support him to usurp a piece of land belonging to another person. Deji’s action, they said, was a taboo.

All the kingmakers and the chiefs were unanimous in their decisions; they therefore urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to allow the selection process of new Deji of Akure to commence immediately.

Despite the botched meeting of Akure Council of Chiefs, they took a decision which they conveyed to the governor through a letter.

The state government, according to the letter made available to newsmen, was admonished to steer clear of the crisis. The chiefs said the crisis was not politically motivated as it was being peddled by those loyal to the deposed monarch.

The chiefs in a letter signed by the Olisa of Akure, High Chief Folorunsho David, said the matter was purely an affair of the Akures’ and not targeted at Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration.

David, who is the Prime Minister of Akure kingdom, said their actions so far over the deposed monarch were mainly traditional and to send Akure back to the path of honour, integrity and concord.