The newly installed Oluoke and Paramount Ruler of Oke-Igbo Kingdom in Ondo State, Oba Akintoye Felix Adeoye, has pledged to support grassroots economic empowerment by granting ₦50,000 each to 100 women traders in honour of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s empowerment initiative.
Oba Adeoye made the announcement on Tuesday during his acceptance speech after receiving the Instrument of Appointment and Staff of Office from Governor Aiyedatiwa in Oke-Igbo, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area. The monarch described the honour as a sacred trust and divine mandate, promising to promote unity, reconciliation, and development across the community.
Aiyedatiwa, while presenting the staff of office, congratulated the new monarch and urged him to uphold peace and unity in his domain. He noted that the ceremony marked the end of a protracted traditional and legal dispute that had left the Oke-Igbo throne vacant for years, following a judicial pronouncement that nullified the appointment of the late Oba Babajide Lawrence Oluwole.
According to the governor, the court ruled that the late Oba was not a descendant of the Aare Kuigbaigbe Ruling House and ordered that the next monarch must emerge from that ruling house. He explained that the Chieftaincy Declaration registered in 2019 by the deposed monarch was declared null and void, thereby restoring the native laws and customs of Oke-Igbo as the valid guide for the selection process.
Commending the kingmakers for their diligence and fairness, Aiyedatiwa urged Oba Adeoye to see his ascension as a call to service and an opportunity to foster peace and unity. He also appealed to other contenders to accept the outcome and support the new monarch, saying, “The interest of Oke-Igbo must be placed above all personal interests. The emergence of the new king should be seen as the will of God for your town.”
The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening security in the state through increased investment in the Amotekun Corps and other security agencies. He urged residents to remain vigilant and collaborate with security operatives in combating crime, emphasizing that “security should be a collective responsibility, not the government’s alone.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, commended the governor for upholding due process in traditional appointments, noting that the State Executive Council approved Oba Adeoye’s appointment on October 27, 2025, after confirming its conformity with Oke-Igbo’s customs and traditions.
Chairman of Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government, Adeboye Adebare, described the ceremony as historic, noting that the community had been without a monarch for several years. He lauded Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership for resolving the age-long dispute and ensuring a transparent, people-driven selection process.
