Residents of Iresa-Adu community in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State have installed several previously vacant Obas and Baales in border towns adjoining Osun and Kwara states, citing prolonged insecurity, land encroachment and what they describe as government neglect.
The installations, carried out across strategic communities under Iresa lands, were aimed at easing rising tensions linked to land grabbing, insecurity and encroachment by external interests.
Community leaders said the action was taken after nearly eight years of failed appeals to Governor Seyi Makinde to approve the installation of the Oba Aresa of Iresa-Adu, a first-class monarch and the paramount ruler of the area.
According to residents, Iresa-Adu—where the Surulere Local Government secretariat is located—is an ancient and prominent town that hosted Governor Makinde during his 2019 and 2023 governorship campaigns.
“There have been numerous unsuccessful appeals to Governor Seyi Makinde to approve the installation of the Oba Aresa-Adu of Iresa-Adu, who is the paramount ruler of all these border towns and villages,” the community said in a statement.
“Whenever approached, the Governor was quoted as saying, ‘I will do the needful.’ However, nothing has been done for almost eight years.”
The residents said appeals were made through letters, personal meetings, newspaper publications, and interventions by prominent Nigerians, politicians and traditional rulers, as well as repeated visits by kingmakers and royal families to the Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan—without success.
“After nearly eight years of wasted efforts, the community decided to act by installing Oba Adeleke Isaiah Olayiwola Oninuola I, the Aregba of Iregba land, a key town under Iresa-Adu,” the statement added.
They explained that Iregba has for decades faced disputes and aggression from neighbouring towns seeking to encroach on Aresa territory.
Speaking separately, Elder Prince Olaleye said the decision was driven by desperation and fear for lives and property.
“We are losing our people to insecurity and disputes, and we are losing our lands to encroachers, all because the Governor has failed to act on the Aresa-Adu throne despite countless appeals,” he said.
“We have humbled ourselves repeatedly, even ridiculed our old age before younger people, just to get this issue resolved.”
Another elder, who requested anonymity, said the community acted out of frustration and abandonment by the Makinde-led administration.
“We are hoping a new governor in 2027 will come to our aid, but too much damage can be done before then. We cannot continue to lose lives, properties, lands and livelihoods because the Aresa-Adu stool remains vacant,” he said.
He added that the Surulere Local Government Chairman, Hon. Isaiah Adegbite, had admitted that there was little he could do without the Governor’s intervention.
“We have exhausted court processes and media appeals to the Governor for nearly eight years, all to no effect,” he said.
The residents maintained that Governor Makinde possesses the executive powers to resolve the matter, noting that he had intervened in similar traditional succession disputes in other parts of the state.
Prince Oyerinde lamented the toll the prolonged delay had taken on the community.
“In the years of waiting, the Iyalode of Aresa-Adu has died. The Balogun of Aresa-Adu has also passed away. Yet the Governor intervened to resolve crises involving the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomosho, the Aseyin, and the Olubadan, even when court cases were involved,” he said.
