Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A traditional ruler in Oyo State, the Aresaadu of Iresaadu in Surulere Local Government Area, Oba Abraham Adeyeye Oyerinde, has raised a desperate alarm over what he describes as a calculated plan by the state government to dethrone him and install a parallel monarch, in flagrant disregard of subsisting court judgments and the rule of law. In a letter addressed to the Acting Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Lawal, the monarch appealed for urgent intervention, alleging that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, headed by Hon. Ademola Ojo, has issued directives to commence the process of nominating another candidate for the Aresaadu stool while he remains the substantive occupant of the throne. The letter, which was made available to journalists on Tuesday evening, September 8, 2026, marks the latest escalation in a seven-year recognition dispute that has pitted the monarch against certain officials and rival ruling houses.
Oba Oyerinde, who was installed by the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi in May 2019 and presented with his staff and instrument of office, said he was shocked to learn that the government had issued a fresh letter in September 2026 directing the Chairman of Surulere Local Government to instruct the Emiolu Ruling House to nominate a candidate for appointment as a parallel Aresaadu. He noted that a similar directive was issued in September 2025, based on what he described as the false claim that a court judgment had nullified his appointment. The monarch insisted that no court of competent jurisdiction has declared the Aresaadu stool vacant, and that his position has been affirmed by multiple court rulings, including a February 2, 2021 judgment of the Oyo State High Court in Suit No. HOI/19/2020, which directed the government to recognise him as the substantive monarch and release his entitlements. He also pointed to a March 24, 2023 judgment that dismissed claims by the Emiolu Ruling House to the stool, adding that an appeal against that judgment was voluntarily withdrawn on May 2, 2024.
The monarch's legal counsel, Barrister Stephen Raji, has previously accused officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters of frustrating the monarch's recognition despite the court judgments and official government records. Raji alleged that the ministry, through a letter dated September 2025 signed by the immediate past Director of Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. A.M. Olajire, directed the local government to commence the nomination process for another candidate, claiming that a court had nullified Oba Adeyeye's appointment. Raji described the action as "sacrilegious, unlawful and a clear abuse of office," and contrary to the oath of office sworn by the officials involved. He also disclosed that letters written by the monarch on March 9, 2026, and by his solicitors on June 15, 2026, requesting the withdrawal of the directive, had yet to receive any response.
In his petition to the Acting Governor, Oba Oyerinde appealed for the immediate withdrawal of the letters issued by the commissioner and for the stoppage of any meetings convened by the Chairman of Surulere Local Government and the Emiolu Ruling House to nominate a fresh candidate. He maintained that the Aresaadu stool was not vacant and that the development was inconsistent with existing court proceedings and judgments relating to the chieftaincy. He also cited the Court of Appeal, in Appeal No. CA/1/291/2002, which had ruled on the rotation of the stool among the ruling houses, establishing that it was the turn of the Osunbiyi Ruling House to produce the candidate. He further stated that other cases relating to the chieftaincy were still pending before the courts, including Suit Nos. HOI/19/2024, HOI/7/2024 and HOI/8/2024, and that contempt proceedings filed in October 2025 over the enforcement of the 2021 judgment were still pending.
The monarch's plea for intervention comes amid growing concerns over the treatment of traditional rulers in Oyo State, where chieftaincy disputes have often been marred by political interference and disregard for judicial pronouncements. The Oyo State Government has yet to officially respond to the monarch's allegations, but the matter has already attracted the attention of civil society groups and legal practitioners, who have called for a halt to any move that could undermine the authority of the courts and the sanctity of traditional institutions. The Aresaadu of Iresaadu, Oba Abraham Adeyeye Oyerinde, has made it clear that he will not surrender his throne without a fight, and his appeal to the Acting Governor represents a last-ditch effort to stop what he sees as an illegal and politically motivated attempt to remove him from office. As the legal battles continue and the government's alleged plot unfolds, the people of Iresaadu and the wider Oyo State watch with bated breath, hoping that the rule of law will prevail over the machinations of power.
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