The Osun State Government has approved the appointment of Prince Tajudeen Olanrewaju as the new Akire of Ikire following the death of Oba Olatunde Falabi (Lambeloye III).
Papers News reports that the approval was granted during a State Executive Council meeting held in Osogbo on Friday and presided over by Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The appointment was confirmed in a statement issued by the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi.
The State Executive Council deliberated on a memo presented by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs before approving the appointment in line with existing laws.
According to the state government, the decision also complied with the terms of settlement earlier agreed upon by the five ruling houses in Ikire.
Oba Olatunde Falabi, the immediate past Akire of Ikire, passed away on February 27, 2026.
The government noted that the Akire stool had been a subject of dispute in the past.
The crisis dated back to 2021, arising from the 2014 Supreme Court judgment which ruled that the Lambeloye Ruling House, which produced the late Oba Falabi, had no legal right to occupy the stool when a vacancy occurred in 1987.
Following the controversy, the Osun State Government worked with the five ruling houses of Ikire to amend the 1958 Akire Chieftaincy Declaration.
The amendment eventually paved the way for the Aketula Ruling House to produce the next monarch whenever the stool became vacant.
The council also approved the appointment of other traditional rulers across the state.
These include Prince Tijani Feyi Ademola as the Aladodo of Adodo in Atakumosa East Local Government Area.
Similarly, Prince (Dr.) Jacob Adetayo Haastrup was appointed as the Olumobi of Imobi-Ijesa, also in Atakumosa East Local Government Area.
In addition to the new appointments, the council approved the elevation of new Obas from the Ile-Ife, Osogbo and Ijesa traditional councils.
