In the last few months since the death of the late Oniru of Iru land, Oba Abiodun Idowu Oniru, there is still a vacuum of leadership in one of the highly coveted royal seats in Lagos.
Lagosians have come to terms with the idea that there are two candidates contending for the throne, Aremo Olusegun Oniru who is the eldest son to the immediate King, from the Akiogun Ruling House, and Prine Hakeem Ajasa who hails from Abisogun Ruling House. To state clearly, there are only three Ruling Houses recognized by the Customary Law Regulation Selection to the Oniru Chieftaincy.
Looking critically at the facts made available due to traditional consultations and the history of the land, most especially the Iru Kingdom, the Akiogun family shouldn’t be in the contest since the Akiogun Ruling House produced the last Oba from the three recognized Ruling Houses.
News Sources has made it known that there is a major shift in the dynamics to the selection of the next Oniru. The political class is set to rearrange the contest by introducing a new candidate who is an influential politician in Lagos. He is rumoured to be a strong ally of the APC National Leader, a former commissioner in the Akinwunmi Ambode administration and present commissioner in the state.
It’s worrisome that the Yoruba Nation seems to be erasing many of its “Omoluabi” ideals by politicizing all aspect of its essence paramount to its people, including the sacred traditional institution which is supposed to be the custodian of culture and tradition.
Shouldn’t the Yoruba Nation have learnt from history that what is meant for Cesar should be given to it and that politicizing the traditional institution will have bitter and unimaginable consequences which can only be best imagined? What will be the legacy to the upcoming generations, as the present political class seems to be ready to unruly engage the use of political power play at the slightest opportunity?
kingmakers of the Abisogun Ruling House who nominated Prince Hakeem Ajasa as the representative of the family knowing fully well that the Customary Law Regulation Selection to the Oniru Chieftaincy of 14th September 1993, approved under the leadership of the late Former Governor, Sir Michael Agbolade Otedola empowers it to do so, are of the strong opinion that they will stand by their son who is an astute police officer with many years of experience and dedication.
According to the top representative of the family “the Abisogun family has listed Hakeem Ajasa as its choice candidate for the highly revered stool and he will continue to have the blessings of the top echelons of the Lagos Traditional Institutions.”
•Written By Kazeem Olayiwola
