As the Lagos State Government moves to fill the vacant stool of Olu of Ikeja, a pressure group in the community, the Orile-Ikeja Indigenes Association, has alleged a fresh plot, “by a powerful woman”, to replace the choice of kingmakers.
In a statement on Sunday, by the coordinator of the association, Alhaji Adeshina Balogun, and secretary, Mr. Olushola Alade, the group urged Governor Akinwumi Ambode to urgently wade in, to ensure fairness and justice.
It said that it got wind of moves to remove the name of the choice of the kingmakers -Alhaji Shamsondeen Adeleye-as Oba-elect and replace it with that of his nephew, who is the candidate of a popular female politician in Ikeja.
The group said, “Already, the Ikeja local council has forwarded the recommendation of the kingmakers, which was carried out about four years ago, to the state government for its approval.
“In the recommendation, the five kingmakers, headed by the late former deputy governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo, endorsed Prince Shamsondeen Adegboye Adeleye as Oba-elect, following thorough screening and necessary traditional rites.
“But we are amazed that a certain female politician in Ikeja is now backing the nephew of Prince Adeleye through some forces at the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, to call for fresh selection on the grounds that three of the five kingmakers that selected Adeleye are dead.
“We, as a result, want to ask: If Jofojo and the others are dead, should we throw away a sound decision reached in their lifetime? If a hen dies during labour, do we throw away its eggs? These are germane questions demanding answer.”
Only recently, the Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Alhaji Mojeed Balogun, appealed to the Ikeja royal circles to put their house in order, as the state government was set to appoint a new Oba for Ikeja.
He spoke when the Ikeja Gbobaniyi Royal Association paid him a courtesy visit, apparently to enquire on the level of government’s readiness to appoint a new Oba for the community.
The last Ikeja monarch, Oba Rauf Matemi, Amore 1, joined his ancestors in October, 2014, and his son has been a regent over the town.