The Ondo State Government has ended a 67-year chieftaincy deadlock by restoring the Onifira Oke of Oke-Ifira stool in Akoko South-East while also approving 500 new hospital beds and a wave of traditional ruler appointments.
The Onifira Oke throne became vacant in 1959 after the death of its last statutory occupant. Though the stool holds first-class status like the Onisua of Isua and Olupesi of Ipesi-Akoko, backed by Western Region declarations signed by then Commissioner Dauda Adegbenro, its documents disappeared from local archives. Only copies held in Ibadan survived.
Efforts by the Oke-Ifira community to reclaim the stool stalled for decades.
A presentation to the Ajama Chieftaincy Review Panel was rejected on technical grounds because the matter was in court.
On Tuesday, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Alhaji Amidu Takuro announced that the State Executive Council had corrected the anomaly.
“After several presentations and a thorough quest for justice, government has now done what is right by restoring the Onifira Oke Chieftaincy to its rightful place,” he said.
The decision came during the year’s first Executive Council meeting, chaired by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
Other chieftaincy decisions approved included:
● New rulers: Prince Olugbenga Adewole Aluko as Olojoda of Oda, Akure South; Prince Jackson Akinson Okorisa as Olu of Jinrinwo, Ilaje; Prince Simeon Oyeleye Obaniyi as Olukakumo, Akoko North-East; Prince Ayodele Akinnadeju as Aladeokun of Alade Idanre.
● Owa-Adimula of Oke-Oro, Akoko North-West, elevated to Grade C status; Ugbagbe of Oroto recognized as Sepeluwa of Oroto, Ilaje, also to Grade C.
● Installations: Four warrant chiefs appointed for a new Olufira of Ifira; warrant chiefs also approved for a new Olofin of Irele.
■ Major health investments
Health Commissioner Dr Banji Ajaka said council approved hospital projects totaling 500 beds across the state:
● 100-bed facilities: Ikare-Akoko, Ore, Okitipupa, State Specialist Hospital, and a specialist hospital in Igbokoda.
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● 50-bed facilities*: Irele and Igbokoda.
● General hospitals: Two “one-stop shop” hospitals combining lab, X-ray, consultation and pharmacy services.
The council also approved a new neuropsychiatric hospital and the upgrade of the existing Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Akure to tackle rising mental health and drug abuse cases.
A revised budget was approved to expand the Contributory Health Commission building. Plans were endorsed to procure CT scan, MRI and mammography machines for the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
Commissioner for Infrastructure Engr. Abiola Olawoye and Information Commissioner Idowu Ajanaku said the moves show government’s commitment to healthcare and traditional institutions.
Ajanaku noted this was the year’s first council meeting, held after the state’s 50th anniversary and the administration’s first year as an elected government. He added that security was also discussed, with the governor recently visiting a community hit by a security breach to commiserate with residents.
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