By Dayo Johnson, Akure
The Ondo State capital was agog yesterday as the new Deji of Akureland, Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida, was presented with instrument of appointment and staff of office by Gov Dr Olusegun Mimiko. Oba Adesida is to commence the traditional rites immediately which is expected to take three months.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mimiko said that the absence of a king in the last few months in the town “created a serious vacuum on the social economic landscape of Akure Community.”

His administration, he said,  would not dabble in the Chieftaincy matters in any Community, adding that  he would continue to maintain “dignified neutrality in the process of filling any vacant stool.”

Head of Akure kingmakers, and the Odopetu of Akure, High Chief Michael Falade, who had earlier opposed the selection of Adesida yesterday went back on  his earlier stance as he was not only present at the presentation of instrument of office for Adesida but told journalists that contrary to earlier reports, majority of the king makers voted for the selection of the monarch.  He had earlier stated that one of the candidates who vied for the stool, Prince Ademola Adegoroye got the highest votes.

A mild drama in the selection process came to fore yesterday as the Chairman of the King makers High Chief Michael Falade who had alleged that the contest failed to follow due process  and that Prince Ademola Adegoroye was picked by the Kingmakers publicly made a u turn.

Meanwhile, major roads in the Akure metropolis were blocked yesterday as residents in their thousands trooped out to welcome the new Oba who is 60 years old, while motorists parked their vehicles and trekked.

Dr Mimiko said that it is the responsibility of every community to deternmine who should lead them while the role of government is to rectify the peoples choice that conforms with the provisions of all extant laws and regulations.

He asked the new Oba to seee his choice “as a call to the service of humanity” and prayed that God would not deny him the required strenght of caharcter to paddle the canoe of Akureland to the promise land.

Dr Mimiko appealed to him to carry along every segmentof the Akure Community in the spirit of moving the town forward adding that his positon as the father of all subjects imposes the responsibility that he must be fair and just to all.

“It is therefore expected of Kabiyesi to exercise restraint and justice and shun all forms of impartiality in the employment of power vested in him as the Deji of Akure.

The new Oba Adesida in his acceptance speech said he would work for the development of the town and cooperate with government in developing the land and the people.

He said the socio_economic development of Akure with emphasis on unity of the people, youth empowerment and human resources development would be his guiding principles.