Deji of Akure deposed, banished, arrested

Friday, 11 June 2010 00:00 News - National


• Police arrest ex-monarch
IT was a day of reckoning for the Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina, Osupa III. He was very fond of the refrain of “e e siun k’Akure a se” in the local dialect, meaning “there is nothing Akure can do”, anytime he ran foul of the law and tradition, which was quite often.
Yesterday, however, Akure did something: Adesina was deposed by the state government following a barrage of criticisms from his subjects against his official conduct which the town’s traditional council of kingmakers that appointed him five years ago, described as “desecration of the royal stool of the land”.
Indeed, the anger of the people of Akure against Adesina was exhibited when he was beaten by an irate mob which gathered to protect his estranged wife when the former controversial monarch went to her house to assault her penultimate Sunday.
The deposed monarch was stripped of his royal paraphernalia of a cap and beads and his attempt at escaping the mob in his underpants was restricted until a team from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the State Police Command came to rescue him from the visibly angry mob.
Adesina was given staff of office on November 6, 2005 as a Prince from the Osupa Lineage of the Akure monarchy thereby putting a halt to the century-old grip on the throne by the Adesida Dynasty, which had become almost synonymous with the stool.
Minutes before the decision to depose him was announced by the state government after an Executive Council meeting, the former monarch was arrested by a team of armed policemen led by John Mark, the Officer in Charge of the SARS of the Ondo Police Command.
Sources at the Police Command said the deposed monarch would be tried for assault against his wife, Olori Bolanle who is currently undergoing treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo for chemical burns.
At the press conference where the deposition was announced, the trio of the Commissioner for Information, Ranti Akerele, his Chieftancy Affairs counterpart, Diran Iyantan and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede, said government acted in the interest of the general public.
Akerele said the kingmakers have been directed to nominate three regents from the Ruling House to the state government to enable the state executive council approve the best that would handle the affairs of the town pending the formal selection of a new monarch who will emerge through the acceptable tradition and norms of the town.
He added that the former Deji would be relocated to a safe place somewhere in the state for an initial period of six months pending further decisions of the security agencies on him.
“The state executive council rested its decision on the provisions of section 17 (1) and (2) of the Chiefs Law 1984 as amended, which vest on it such powers to suspend or depose any chief if it considered it reasonably justifiable.
"Before arriving at this decision, government had taken its time to study the reports of the security agencies, reports from well-meaning Akure citizens on both sides of the divide and particularly the response of the deposed monarch to a query issued by the relevant office of government.
"Government also studied the position of the State Council of Traditional Rulers before arriving at the decision, which it believes is in the best interest of the people of Akure and the larger society.
"Government has been deliberate, meticulous and firm in looking at all sides. We have taken our time to follow the provisions of the law in taking our decisions, issues involved," he said.
The commissioner said that the allegations leveled against the deposed monarch are very crucial to the existence of the people as a cultural group and touched on the deep values held dearly by the people of the state. He enjoined residents of the state to go about their normal legitimate duties as the security agencies have been directed to maintain law and order and to punish anyone that may foment trouble
Confirming Adesina’s arrest to The Guardian yesterday, Commissioner of Police Magaji Nasarawa said the monarch was arrested following a directive from the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, after going through the report of the State Police Command on the assault of the monarch against his wife.