The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has intervened in the prolonged chieftaincy dispute over the vacant stool of the Olufon of Ifon-Omima in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, appealing to all contestants to embrace dialogue and allow peace to prevail.
The appeal was conveyed by the monarch of Ifon-Osun in Osun State, Oba Peter Ipadeola, who visited Ifon-Omima on Saturday to facilitate reconciliation among the contestants and other stakeholders.
The Olufon stool became vacant following the death of Oba Israel Adeusi in 2020. However, disagreements over the selection process have prevented the community from installing a new traditional ruler for six years.
Speaking during his visit, Oba Ipadeola said the Ooni sent him to help resolve the crisis. He urged all contestants to put the interests of the community above their personal ambitions.
“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 affect the community’s ability to seek government support and represent its interests before 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 stated.
Community Leaders Seek Resolution
The Asuada of Ifon-Omima, Chief Tunde Eniolorunda, described the visit as an important step towards resolving the dispute and paving the way for the emergence of a new Olufon.
He appealed to the Ondo State Government to allow the selection process to proceed in accordance with the existing chieftaincy declaration. He also called for transparency and urged the government not to interfere in the process.
“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, stressing that the community still wanted those responsible to be identified.
“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.
Committee’s Efforts to Resolve the Crisis
The President of the Ifon Improvement Forum, Major General Benjamin Badewole, explained that efforts to resolve the dispute began after the death of Oba Adeusi in 2020, when the Olufon Memorial 2020 was established.
He said a five-member committee was later formed under his leadership to find a solution to the crisis.
According to Badewole, the committee consulted the Olori Ebis, secretaries of the seven ruling houses and other stakeholders before recommending that the contest for the throne be opened to eligible contestants.
However, he said the Ondo State Government rejected the recommendation, citing the absence of a chieftaincy declaration permitting such an arrangement.
Badewole added that the forum’s executive proposed three possible solutions in February 2026 and submitted them to the state government on February 14. He said the forum had yet to receive a response.
He explained that the Ifon Association in America and the Ooni of Ife were subsequently approached to intervene, leading to Oba Ipadeola’s peace mission.
Badewole appealed to all contestants to put aside their differences and work towards a solution acceptable to everyone.
“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.
The community is hoping that the intervention will help resolve the six-year dispute and pave the way for the installation of a new Olufon.
