Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has unseated three monarchs appointed by his predecessor Gboyega Oyetola.
The monarchs are the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Yinusa Akadiri; Aree of Iree, Oba Ademola Oluponle; and Owa of Igbajo, Oba Adegboyega Famodun.
Adeleke, in a statement on Monday signed by his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, announced that the aforementioned thrones remain unoccupied pending the outcome of a committee of inquiry to review their appointments and subsequent installations.
Last week, there was crisis in Ikirun over the installation of the Akinrun after the police tried to force the gates of the palace open. The palace had been closed since the installation of the monarch. A prince was killed in the incident.
Announcing his decision, Adeleke said in the statement, “All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after 17th July, 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies. In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Ire and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered to take charge.
“All employments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after July 17th, 2022 be and are hereby nullified.”
The governor, according to the statement, also ordered the reversal of appointments into civil service and directed heads of government agencies to embark on staff audits immediately.
