The Osun State Government has demoted two traditional rulers in Osogbo, the state capital, and the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke has so far addressed the matter only through an official letter. The affected monarchs are the Alagunbeelewo of Agunbeelewo and the Olu of Irepodun. Vanguard reported the development on Sunday.
Notably, the letter gives no reason for the decision, according to the report. As a result, the order itself is the government’s only on-record position, and no official statement linking it to politics has surfaced. Observers therefore have to rely on the government’s wider record to understand how it approaches chieftaincy matters.
Chief Maruf Olayiwola, the Alagunbeelewo, offered a different explanation. He said both monarchs stood accused of associating with the APC instead of the Accord Party in the state. However, the government has not confirmed that claim, and the letter does not mention it. Consequently, the political explanation remains an allegation from one affected ruler rather than an official finding.
From the government’s side, the decision fits a pattern of assertive action on traditional institutions. In November 2022, for example, Adeleke dethroned three monarchs appointed by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola. Similarly, in May 2026, the governor approved the deposition of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu after a United States court convicted the monarch of fraud. In that case, the deposition order cited the court’s finding, which shows the administration has attached stated grounds to some earlier decisions.
The governor has also warned traditional rulers publicly. In March 2025, after renewed communal clashes in Ifon and Ilobu/Erin-Osun, he promised firm action. “I will wield the big stick. Enough is enough,” Adeleke said at the time. Moreover, he said his government would remove any traditional ruler who failed to sustain peace in their community. That warning shows the administration treats the conduct of monarchs as a matter of public order.
Supporters of the administration therefore argue that the governor holds legitimate authority over chieftaincy and uses it in the state’s interest. Under chieftaincy laws in Nigerian states, governors typically approve appointments and hold disciplinary powers over traditional rulers. Moreover, the reported action is a demotion rather than a removal, a step supporters may describe as measured.
Critics will likely see it differently. They can point to the Alagunbeelewo’s claim as evidence of political motive, and the setting adds weight to that reading. Osogbo has the largest electorate among Osun’s local government areas, and it stood out as a major battleground in the governorship contest. Nevertheless, an allegation from an affected party does not prove motive, and only a government explanation or the letter’s full text can settle the question.
Chieftaincy decisions in Osun have also proved contentious before. For instance, after Adeleke removed the Owa of Igbajoland, a committee reviewed the case, the government issued a White Paper, and the ruling house still rejected the order to select a new monarch. That history shows how quickly such decisions can turn into public disputes.
Several questions remain open. The government has yet to say which ranks the two rulers now hold, what legal basis the letter cites, or whether it will respond to the APC allegation. [Insert statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, once available.] Meanwhile, the affected rulers may seek redress through the courts or through the government’s own review processes.
Sojworldnews will update this report as the government responds and as more details about the demotion emerge.
Leave a Reply