OONI INTERVERNES IN ONDO COMMUNITY’S SIX-YEAR STOOL CRISIS
Read Time:3 Minute, 14 Second
BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has asked the people competing for the Olufon stool of Ifon-Omima in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State to talk things out and let peace come back to the long–standing dispute over leadership.
This message was delivered by the monarch of Ifon-Osun in Osun State, Oba Peter Ipadeola, who went to Ifon-Omima on Saturday to help bring everyone together and find a way to settle the disagreement.
The Olufon position became empty after the death of Oba Israel Adeusi in 2020, and the community hasn’t been able to choose a new leader because people are arguing about how to select the next person.
During his visit, Ipadeola said the Ooni sent him to help resolve the issue and encouraged those wanting to become the new leader to think about what’s best for the people, not just their own goals.
“I am here at the behest of the Ooni of Ife, and he will be happy if I am able to resolve the issue and there is total peace in this town. He asked me to tell all the contestants to cooperate and give room for a peaceful resolution,” he said.
The monarch warned that the absence of a traditional ruler could limit the community’s representation before the government and other traditional institutions.
“A town or community without a reigning king is in darkness and will be deprived of development and progress. There is nobody to fight and defend your cause in the council of Obas and demand your rights from the government,” he said.
Chief Tunde Eniolorunda, the Asuada of Ifon-Omima, called the visit important.He said it was a chance to settle the disagreement and create space for a new Olufon to come into power.
He asked the Ondo State Government to let the selection process happen according to the current chieftaincy rules and urged them to be open and honest without getting involved.
“The community is saying no. Follow the laid-down declaration. Let us have a king like any other town,” he said.
Eniolorunda also called for an investigation into the killing of the late monarch, saying the community was still seeking answers over the incident.
”For the past six years now, we don’t have a king and we will not give up our demand for an investigation to unravel those behind the monarch’s murder,” he stated.
The President of the Ifon Improvement Forum, Major General Benjamin Badewole, traced efforts to resolve the dispute to the formation of the Olufon Memorial 2020 following Adeusi’s death.
Badewole said a five-man committee was subsequently established under his leadership to explore a solution to the impasse.
He explained that the committee talked to the Olori Ebis, secretaries of the seven main families in power, and other important people before suggesting that the contest should be open to everyone.
He said the state government turned down the idea because there was no official statement or declaration about leadership that supported this change.
He also mentioned that the forum’s leadership came up with three possible solutions in February 2026 and sent them to the state government on February 14, but they haven’t gotten a reply yet.
Badewole said that the Ifon Association in America and the Ooni were then asked to help, which led to Ipadeola’s effort to bring peace.
He urged the participants to put aside their disagreements and find a solution that everyone can agree on.
“Permit me to appeal to all the contestants to close ranks, bury individual ambitions and allow us find a peaceful solution to the problem at hand. On behalf of the IIF, we are here to appeal to all the contestants to bury individual ambition and work for the unity of the community,” he said.
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