The people of Oke Ode town in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have urgently called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to expedite the appointment of a new Elesa to fill the leadership vacuum created by the death of Oba Abdulkadir Alebiosu in 2022.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Ajala Bello, National President of the Oke Ode Community Development Association, said the prolonged absence of a monarch has severely worsened insecurity, leaving residents and farmers vulnerable to bandits and kidnappers.

"Since the passing of our beloved Elesa, the community has been in disarray. The lack of a central authority has made it difficult to control the excesses of marauding bandits who kidnap innocent people and destroy livelihoods," Ajala Bello said in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday.

The National President also accused some influential individuals in the town of deliberately frustrating the selection and approval process for personal gain, despite the community submitting a suitable candidate through legally approved channels.

"Unfortunately, some individuals are determined to truncate the process so they can continue to exploit the town's resources illegally," he said, adding that the leadership vacuum had also deprived local and state governments of tax revenue, with lawlessness allowing unauthorised collection of community dues.

Ajala-Bello commended the Kwara State Government and security agencies for their efforts to restore peace but urged the governor to take decisive action to end the impasse.

"A town with a king will always have stability, because a true leader will never allow his community to be deserted or overrun by insecurity," he stressed.

The appeal followed a bandit attack on Oke-Ode on September 28, 2025, which claimed at least 15 lives and saw several residents abducted.