Tension is mounting in Ipetumodu, Osun State, as community stakeholders have issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Ademola Adeleke to declare the Apetu stool vacant and commence the process of selecting a new traditional ruler.
At a press conference held on Thursday, representatives of the Aribile and Fagbemokun ruling houses, alongside kingmakers and community leaders, expressed concern over the prolonged absence of a functional monarch, warning that the vacuum is already affecting traditional authority, administrative order, and territorial stability in the town.
The crisis centres on the continued recognition of Oba Joseph Oloyede, who is currently serving a 56-month prison sentence in the United States following a fraud conviction linked to COVID-19 relief funds.
According to U.S. authorities, the monarch was found guilty of participating in a conspiracy that exploited emergency loan programmes designed to support small businesses during the pandemic. Court records show that assets tied to the proceeds of the crime, including a residential property in Medina, Ohio, and over $96,000, were forfeited. He was also ordered to pay restitution exceeding $4.4 million and will serve a period of supervised release after completing his sentence.
Despite these developments, community leaders say the Osun State Government has yet to take formal steps to declare the throne vacant, a delay they argue is fuelling uncertainty and weakening traditional governance structures.
Speaking on behalf of the ruling houses, Prince Dele Oyebade stated that all necessary legal documentation, including the Certified True Copy of the judgment, had been submitted to the state government without any corresponding action.
“The documents have been made available, yet no action has followed. This delay is causing avoidable tension within the community,” he said.
Oyebade further suggested that the governor may not have been fully briefed on the matter, alleging gaps in communication from the lawmaker representing Ife North State Constituency.
Echoing similar concerns, another community representative, Prince Olaboye Ayoola, linked rising local disputes and administrative challenges to the absence of a recognised monarch.
“We are giving the government seven days to respond. The town cannot continue without leadership, as this situation is already affecting our land and traditions,” Ayoola said, adding that neighbouring communities have begun encroaching on disputed territories while key cultural rites remain suspended.
On behalf of the traditional council, the Aresa of Ipetumodu, Chief Lawrence Odewale, called for urgent intervention, including the appointment of warrant chiefs to facilitate the selection of a new monarch.
“Declaring the stool vacant is necessary to restore order and enable the kingmakers to carry out their responsibilities without further delay,” he said.
The unfolding situation has intensified calls for swift government action to resolve the leadership vacuum and safeguard the integrity of the traditional institution in Ipetumodu.
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