By our Reporter
Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa,of Ondo State has presented the staff of office and instrument of appointment to the pioneer traditional ruler of Oke-Oro in Akoko North-West Local Government Area, Oba Olanrewaju Olawoye Adeyemi, as the Owa Adimula of Oke-Oro.
The governor also announced the official change of the community’s name from Oke Irun to Oke-Oro during the installation ceremony held on Wednesday.
Aiyedatiwa said the Ondo State Executive Council approved the recognition of the Oke-Oro Chieftaincy Declaration on April 14, 2026, in accordance with the Chieftaincy Law of Ondo State, 1984, as amended.
Describing the occasion as historic, the governor noted that the recognition of the stool fulfilled the long-standing aspiration of the people of the community to have a recognised traditional institution.
He congratulated Oba Adeyemi on his ascension as the pioneer Owa Adimula of Oke-Oro and expressed confidence that his reign would promote peace, unity and development in the community.
The governor, however, cautioned the monarch against abusing traditional authority, urging him to use the office to foster harmony and cordial relationships within the community and neighbouring towns.
Speaking on insecurity, Aiyedatiwa reiterated that the protection of lives and property remained a major priority of his administration.
According to him, the state government has continued to strengthen the Amotekun Corps and other security agencies through improved funding, logistics and manpower support.
He also urged traditional rulers across the state to collaborate closely with security agencies by providing credible intelligence to tackle criminal activities.
The governor further addressed controversies surrounding the installation, insisting that the exercise was conducted in line with a subsisting court order.
“If one court order says I should go ahead and another one is saying don’t go ahead, common sense will tell me what I ought to choose. And I have chosen this,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He maintained that only the Court of Appeal had the authority to stop the exercise, noting that courts of coordinate jurisdiction could not invalidate one another’s rulings.
In his acceptance speech, Olanrewaju Olawoye Adeyemi thanked the governor for making the historic occasion possible and described him as an Omoluabi.
The monarch stated that Oke-Oro possesses one of the largest land masses in the state and shares boundaries with Ekiti and Supare communities.
Oba Adeyemi later conferred on Governor Aiyedatiwa the traditional title of Lisa Jigan of Oke-Oro.
Earlier, the Chairman of Akoko North-West Local Government Area, Esan Owolabi, described the installation as the beginning of a new era for the people of Oke-Oro.
He commended the governor for approving the stool and presenting the staff of office to the monarch, describing the gesture as a demonstration of commitment to preserving cultural heritage and strengthening traditional institutions.
