Deposed Deji of Akure Says ‘I’ve Learnt My Lessons, Reinstate Me’

The deposed Deji of Akure, Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina, has pleaded with the Ondo State government to vacate the deposition and banishment orders placed on him in 2010.

The deposed monarch based his appeal on lessons learnt from the ordeal, saying he was more prepared to return to the throne of his forefathers since it was the turn of the Adesina house to produce the next Deji.

His appeal is also sequel to the death of the former Deji, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, who died last month at the age of 63 after having reigned for only three years after Adesina’s deposition.

In a letter dated December 19 by his counsel, Sola Oke and addressed to the State Executive Council, Adesina said many of the allegations levelled against him that led to his deposition were as a result of gap in communication and information management.

He added that many of the allegations levelled against him were lies as they never happened, urging the governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and other members of the state executive council to kindly rescind the decision on his deposition and banishments.

His letter read in part: “I also read it in the papers that I poured hot ashes which I brought in nylon bag on her. Sir, is it not strange that hot ashes was brought in a nylon bag? Why did the nylon not melt?

“Besides, is it not elementary traditional science that if you pour ashes, it will undoubtedly be blown towards you (the pourer). That is why it is said in Yoruba land that “eni deeru ni eeru n to”. Why was I not affected by the ashes myself since I was the one that allegedly poured it? Why was any other person not affected since, by the media accounts, the environment was rowdy and full of people?” he queried.

He also debunked the allegation that he was collecting royalty on land in the town, explaining that the only person caught in the act was an impostor and was reported to the police at the ‘A’ Division of the command but the police refused to prosecute him.

He also denied allegations that he and members of the council of chiefs and the kingmakers were at loggerheads, saying there was no step he took without their input, including the removal of the former Lisa of the town, High Chief Folorunso Davids.

He said: “Consequent upon the above, I do honestly plead with your good self and the other members of your Executive Council to kindly rescind your decision on my deposition and banishments and to reinstate me back to my position as the Deji of Akure.”

On the disagreement between the chiefs and the palace, Adesina said, “To begin with, I never had any disagreement with either the Akure Council of Chiefs as a whole or the Kingmakers alone. The seeming disagreement I had with the chiefs was on the payment of ‘Igbanujo”.