A senior member of the Omowumi Abisogun Ruling House of the Oniru royal family, Prince Razaq Adele, tells TOBI AWORINDE why he believes the just-installed Oba Gbolahan Lawal should be dethroned
Your family has rejected the enthronement of the new Oniru of Iruland, Oba Gbolahan Lawal. What is your grouse with his installation?
The family is not happy with what we see and what is going on right now. To start with, the issue has been on the ground for many years within the family — Omowumi Abisogun and (Oba Abiodun) Idowu, the Oba that passed away recently. But actually, we were the next in line to the throne and, as traditional rulers, this is our family issue. It is not the business of any politician. No politician engaged in any monarchy issue that belongs to them (the family). The only area where the politicians or governor of the state can come in is when the family chooses the right person from among them to become king. Then, if everybody accepts or the family brings anyone from their different areas, then the oracle will appoint from within the family who will be the next king. Once the oracle is consulted, then the family will agree with it and do the necessary things in the traditional way. After that, if the ceremony comes up, they will invite the governor of that state as a guest.
It is not the governor that imposes (a king). In my life, I’d never seen a situation where the governor would just pick someone who is not the member of the royal family to be the king. I don’t know any Lawal as a (member of the royal) family in Lagos State — every Lawal comes from Ibadan (Oyo State) or Ilorin (Kwara State). So, how can a Lawal be in our family? I understand the guy is from Ojora family — that is where (his) mother comes from. If he truly is (a member of) our family, let (him) come through the traditional channels to prove it. They should ask this guy a question: we had done that on Monday. The issue is still in the courts but, due to COVID-19 — and the state governor of Lagos State did not even abide by the rules of COVID-19 while many Nigerians are dying. They asked people to stay at home and they were doing a ceremony unlawfully. This is not proper; all these things must change.
Again, when they installed this guy, there was nobody in our family – Omowumi Abisogun – that was aware of it. This is rubbish. All this needs to be stopped. You cannot just put somebody who is not a member of the royal family in the palace as king. Who gave them the crown? How did he get to become the king? No family contacts. This is what is upsetting everyone. That is why we are protesting this; that Lagos State governor should use his role to deliver for true Lagosians, reverse (the installation), remove that guy from that palace and follow the normal protocol. That is all I want to say.
Did you hear of the installation on the day it happened or were you aware beforehand?
That is what I’m saying. This is a shock. I was not even told. What I was aware of had to do with our king, (Prince Hakeem) Ajasa. That is why we took the case to court. I was aware of that and Hakeem confessed that he is not from the Abisogun family when they went to court before Ramadan. I was told about that. So, the court still proceeded and postponed the judgment. We are still expecting (justice). And I was told every local government (chairman) who was involved has been served a letter. It is like the government is even doing things in an improper way. It went ahead to instal a stranger in the palace as king but the family was not aware of it; it is not good. That is what we are fighting against.
Are the other branches in the family in support of Oba Lawal’s installation?
What my brother (Prince Babatunde Kabiawu) said that he wouldn’t know (whether the other branches are in support) is true. But now, I can tell you categorically that those people — Ajasa or whomever — all of them have come back to the family because most of them realised the mistake they made. As you know, you will see some ‘onijekuje’ (greedy people) in the family who would do some things because of political gains and money. I was told a power-broker in Lagos called one of the family members — they are young people — and offered them N20m. I’m not sure if it is true; it’s what I heard, and the guy said, ‘No, I’m not going to collect it. We still have elders in the family.’
Also, what I was told, which again I don’t believe is that they first called (Aremo) Segun (Oniru) and Segun told them, ‘No, go and meet the Oniru family.’ Alhaji Surajudeen Durosinmi was not aware. Alhaji Bilyaminu was very ill and was not aware of all these things. So, they gathered themselves after the guys refused to receive money from the power-broker and said, ‘I will not accept that.’ So, within three days, I was told that they had to tell this guy to resign as Commissioner for Agriculture or whatever — I don’t know him — so he withdrew from that post.
Three days later, on (the penultimate) Saturday, I saw a video, which had me confused and I asked myself, ‘Is this the way they are doing things in Nigeria now?’ I belong to the two royal families: Adele Ajosun is my father’s family. I’m from a royal family: Adenike Adele. The same thing on my mother’s side; we belong to royalty: Akinsemoyin Omowumi Ajenitoru Abisogun. So, I’m telling you the fact. I’m really confused. I have not been able to sleep. What is going on in Nigeria? Is it compulsory for these politicians to invade people’s families, especially the royal family? When we’re talking about the royal family, we should know that it is a no-go zone and no outsider can just interfere in their affairs. This is the Yoruba tradition; we must follow that. That is why we see that Nigeria is not stable at the moment. This is different from politics; this is tradition. We cannot throw away all our values.
We are not dead; the family is still alive, so why would the governor use COVID-19 as an opportunity to penetrate the family by installing a stranger when he knew the case was still in court? This is ridiculous! The Lagos State governor used his power to violate the state COVID-19 rules and even the Federal Government rules. They should not have enthroned this guy. So, with regard to the family, I don’t know which one you are talking about, whether Segun’s side or the Omowumi Abisogun’s side.
Prince Ajasa congratulated the new Oniru, though he was said to have been the successor chosen by members of your family. Did you know he was no longer interested in being the king?
He has confessed that he’s not from Omowumi Abisogun. You say he congratulated the new Oniru but I never heard that. But I believe it because someone told me that. Like I said, people need to be very careful when they hear rumours. I am always careful before I respond to anybody. This is a guy that I was told the power-broker in the state said he would give them some problems; that was why they installed this new one.
I won’t be bothered about that. I don’t live in Lagos; I am based in the UK. We only receive information but I don’t know anything that has to do with that area. If truly he is congratulating the new king, it’s up to them. The case is in court. I read the first report (about it) last year when they went to court. I have a copy of the newspaper saying my mother and Alhaji Suraju had the power to select the right person for the family. When I go through that newspaper, I never see anything about this Gbolahan (Lawal), even campaigning to be king or being a member of the Abisogun family, except Hakeem Ajasa. That’s the only person who was trying to fight for it. I know that person (Lawal) is not part of my family; that was why I called Alhaji Suraju to ask: ‘Who is Hakeem Ajasa? I have been seeing news reports about this guy all over social media.’ He said everybody was shocked and that I should just be patient because the case was in court. When he went to court, before Ramadan, even his brother confessed and those who were close to him that he was not from the Abisogun family. (Punch)
