Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said the late Oba Israel Adeusi will not die in vain as the government will leave no stone unturned to apprehend the killers of the traditional ruler.
The governor stated this on Saturday at the interdenominational service for the late monarch, held at the Ifon Recreation Club, Ifon.
Oba Adeusi, who was a monarch in the Ose Local Government Area, was shot dead by gunmen at the Elegbeka area of the local government along Benin-Owo Expressway in November 2020 on his way from Akure, the state capital, where he had attended a meeting. The late monarch ruled for 23 years.
Speaking on Saturday, the governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Oladunni Odu, described the late monarch as a person who had the love of his people at heart, adding the he brought peace and development to the community during his reign.
Akeredolu said, “His death made us realise the security of the country. No stone will be left unturned to fish out the killers of the monarch. Oba Adeusi would not die in vain. He attracted many developmental projects to Ifon Community.”
He urged the community to allow peace to reign while selecting the next monarch for the community.
In his sermon during the service, the Diocesan Bishop of Owo Anglican Diocese, Stephen Fagbemi, asked the government to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of the killing of the oba to book.
“The current state of security of the country is worrisome. The situation has turned everybody to an agitator in Nigeria. Government should act on this . Division will cause our enemy to laugh at us,” the cleric stated.
The state Council of Obas, represented by the monarch of Ikaramu Akoko, Oba Andrew Momodu, said late Oba Adeusi would be greatly missed in the council and the state in general. He also appealed to the security agencies to bring the killers of the late Ifon monarch to justice.
The traditional ruler stated, “We have lost someone precious to us in the council. He (deceased) touched the lives of the people of Ifon. His contribution to the council was always significant.”