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Akure kingmakers may soon take
disciplinary measures against the Deji of Akure, Oluwadare Adesina, who
publicly assaulted his wife, Bolanle, at her residence on Monday. The
woman has also resolved to seek legal redress.

The head of the kingmakers and Lisa of
Akure kingdom, Folorunsho Davies, said in a telephone interview that
the monarch’s action was unacceptable, and against the customs of
Akureland.

Mr Davies, who noted that the council
of chiefs was taking statements from the monarch and his estranged
wife, said if the claims are true, it was wrong for a first class
monarch to have descended so low.

“We are meeting on the matter to decide
what will be our next line of action. It is unacceptable in the custom
of Akure for a Deji to fight in public places,” he said. “We have once
reported his behaviour to the state government before and we are going
to report him again so that necessary action is taken on the matter”.

Mrs Adesina also told us in a telephone
interview that she will be suing Mr Adesina over what she labelled his
indecent behaviour in public.

“I am not going to treat the matter
with levity because he infringed on my human rights. He ordered me out
of his house eight months ago and he came to assault me in my private
residence,” she said. “If not for the police that rescued me from him,
what would we have been saying? Maybe I would be dead by now. My family
and I have resolved to take the matter to court”.

Meanwhile, notable indigenes of the state have started reacting to the action of the monarch.

The former leader of the Ondo State
House of Assembly, Kunle Agunbiade described the behaviour of Mr
Adesina as repulsive and unwarranted.

“The Action of Oba Adesina is not only
an embarrassment to himself but the entire Akure people who are noted
for hospitality and good conduct,” Mr. Agunbiade said.

The former secretary to the government of the federation, Olu Falae refused to discuss the matter. “I have no comment,” he said.

The oba’s public assault on his wife
has also attracted scathing criticisms from members of the civil
society, who labelled his action as barbaric, nauseating and criminal.

Women want justice

The state chairperson of Grassroots
Women Emancipation Movement, Phebean Adejuyi called for the immediate
arrest and prosecution of the monarch.

“Every mother and house wife must do
everything in their position to see that the matter is not swept under
the carpet. Justice in this case must be seen to have been done; it
must not end on the pages of newspapers alone,” she said. “This will
serve as deterrent to other people of crude character like Oba Adesina.
We have decided to write the state assembly to take over the matter, so
that justice can be achieved”.

The President of Women Alert, Joe
Okei-Odumakin described the monarch’s action as embarrassing and
inhuman. Mrs Okei-Odumakin, who is also the president of Campaign for
Democracy, said in a telephone interview yesterday that the action of
the traditional ruler has revealed that our leaders are highly
intolerant. She added that the action of the king, who should be a role
model for the society, portends serious danger for the future of our
youths and challenged security agencies in the state to ensure that the
king is brought to book.

“In a sane society, anyone, no matter
how highly placed, should not be allowed to carry out such act against
a woman and be allowed to go scot free. The police should take
immediate action and ensure that the King is punished,” she said.

“As the President of Women Alert, I will mobilize other Nigerian
women groups to ensure that the case did not die and this will be a
litmus test to the Nigerian police.”