Fresh tension is brewing in Idanre Kingdom, in the Idanre local government area of Ondo state, as the royal family of the late Owa of Idanre, Oba Fredrick Aroloye, has accused officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of attempting to sidestep extant laws and impose an ineligible candidate on the revered traditional stool.
This is just as the family petitioned the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, through their solicitors, Akinyemi Omoware, calling on the governor to urgently intervene and compel the ministry to strictly adhere to the Registered Chieftaincy Declaration governing the Owa of Idanre stool.
According to the petition, both the Registered Declaration and the White Paper clearly establish that the stool of Owa of Idanre has only one ruling house—the Owa’s House—and that eligibility to ascend the throne is restricted to sons of previous holders of the title.
The family, however, alleged that despite these unambiguous provisions, officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are allegedly giving “undue support and recognition” to one Mr Kayode Aroloye, whom they insist is not a son of any former Owa of Idanre and therefore constitutionally disqualified from participating in the selection process.
The petition stated in part: “Some agents of the government, particularly at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, are conniving with and or giving undue support to one Kayode Aroloye with a motive to circumvent the provisions of the Registered Declaration.
“Our above position is apt in that Mr Kayode Aroloye is not in any way qualified or eligible to participate and be appointed as Owa of Idanre because he is not a son of any previous holder of the title of Owa of Idanre as clearly entrenched in the Registered Declaration.
“Your Excellency, it is important to let your government know that, notwithstanding the above clear and unambiguous condition, it is in the public domain that the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government is giving assurance and undue recognition to a non-eligible person of Mr Kayode Aroloye.
“This singular attempt to foist an ineligible candidate on the Ruling House may cause crises, breach of peace and possibly lead to breakdown of law and order”
“Rather than adhering to this obligation, it is the opinion of our client that the Ministry is colluding with Mr Kayode Aroloye to sideline the Registered Declaration and the White Paper; boycott the kingmakers preparatory to appointing warrant chiefs to circumvent the Registered Declaration.
“In carrying out this sinister motive, a faceless petition was written to the Ondo State Anti-Corruption Agency with a view to using its report to indict the kingmakers in order to pave the way for the appointment of warrant chiefs. This is totally strange to the Chief Law”
However, reacting to the allegations, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, denied claims that his ministry was attempting to impose someone as king on the community, describing the accusations as “completely false and misleading.”
Takuro maintained that the Ondo State Government has consistently adopted a neutral and non-partisan position in matters relating to traditional leadership, stressing that it does not interfere in succession processes.
“It is important to clarify that the government does not, and cannot, impose anyone as king in any community. Such claims are nothing but cheap blackmail aimed at discrediting the authorities.”
“All the Princes who have shown interest have visited me in the office, and I have directed all of them to the kingmakers, and if anybody is not eligible, it is for the kingmakers and not the government. We have no hand in the selection process.”
But the people maintained and warned that any attempt to impose an ineligible candidate would amount to a direct violation of the Chiefs’ Law and could destabilise the peace of the ancient town.
“The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has a duty, not a discretion, to ensure compliance with the Registered Declaration and the Government White Paper,” the petition stated,
They added that any deviation from the laid-down legal framework could trigger avoidable crises and a breakdown of law and order in Idanre.
The petition further alleged that there were plans to sideline the recognised kingmakers by orchestrating their indictment through a “faceless petition” submitted to the Ondo State Anti-Corruption Agency, allegedly to justify the appointment of warrant chiefs.
The family maintained that such a move would be illegal, stressing that the Chiefs Law permits the appointment of warrant chiefs only where there is no quorum of kingmakers.
They noted that out of the 12 recognised kingmakers listed in the Registered Declaration, only nine are alive and fully capable of conducting the selection process.
Describing Idanre as a peaceful and law-abiding community, the petition warned that the people would strongly resist any attempt to rewrite the history, tradition and legal framework guiding the Owa of Idanre stool.
The family, therefore, appealed to Governor Aiyedatiwa to urgently call the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to order and direct strict compliance with the Registered Chieftaincy Declaration, insisting that respect for the rule of law remains the only path to sustaining peace in Idanre.
They expressed confidence that the governor would uphold due process and prevent actions capable of plunging the community into crisis.
The stool became vacant following the demise of Oba Aroloye in December 2024, after which the ruling house formally notified the Ondo state government and sought approval to commence the process of filling the vacancy.
The government, through a letter dated June 4, 2025, reportedly granted approval and directed that the selection process be carried out strictly in line with the Registered Declaration of the Owa of Idanre and the Government White Paper on the Morgan Chieftaincy Review Commission of 1981.