IRESA-ADU — Following nearly eight years of frustration and alleged neglect by the Oyo State government, the Iresa-Adu community in Surulere Local Government Area has taken matters into its own hands, installing a new traditional ruler to fill a key vacant stool in the area. 

The community, which hosts the Surulere Local Government Secretariat, has for years petitioned Governor Seyi Makinde to grant formal approval for the substantive Oba Aresa of Iresa-Adu, a premier traditional position that has remained vacant since 2018. 

The decision to install Oba Adeleke Isaiah Olayiwola Oninuola I as the Aregba of Iregba, a critical territory under the Iresa-Adu domain, stems from a dire need to curb escalating insecurity, land encroachment, and boundary disputes, community leaders stated. 

A Community "Fed Up"

Speaking on the development, a community elder, Prince Olaleye, highlighted the unbearable consequences of the prolonged vacancy. “We had to take action because we are losing lives to insecurity and disputes, and we are losing our lands to encroachers," he said. "Governor Makinde has failed to act despite our repeated appeals”. 

According to reports, the community has utilized various channels—letters, delegations, and visits to the State Secretariat—to secure the Governor`s approval, with little to no result. Residents noted that while the governor moved swiftly to intervene in high-profile, contested stools like the Alaafin, Soun, and Aseyin, the Iresa-Adu matter has been ignored for nearly eight years. 

Another community source remarked that the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Isaiah Adegbite, had expressed exhaustion, admitting that without the Governor’s direct intervention, there was little he could do. 

Insecurity and Demographic Pressure

The urgency behind the self-installation is tied to the geographical location of Iresa-Adu, which borders both Osun and Kwara states. The absence of a recognized paramount ruler has made the area porous to cattle rustlers and land-grabbers, local sources argued. 

"We cannot sit back while lives, properties, and livelihoods continue to be threatened," a community elder stated, noting that the community has, in fact, taken steps to fill other vacant Baales (subordinate chiefs) on border lands to bolster security. 

A History of Broken Promises?

Residents expressed disappointment that despite hosting Governor Makinde during his 2019 and 2023 campaign tours, the administration has not addressed their plight. Community leaders alleged that they were often told by the state government that it would "do the needful," but such promises never materialized into action. 

The crisis has taken a toll on the community`s leadership structure, with reports indicating that the Iyalode and Balogun of Aresa-Adu passed away while waiting for the stool to be filled. 

As of the time of this report, the Oyo State Government has not officially responded to the community’s action or the allegations of neglect. The installation of the Aregba of Iregba marks a turning point in the community`s relationship with the state, highlighting a growing trend of local communities resorting to self-help in matters of traditional leadership.