The body of kingmakers in Ikeja community of Lagos
yesterday urged the state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to launch an
inquest into what has caused the delay in installing a traditional ruler for
the state capital five years after the kingmakers had presented an Oba-elect.
Addressing journalists at Ikeja yesterday, the Secretary
to the body of kingmakers, Chief Olufemi Titi-Thomas, said an Oba-elect in the
person of Prince Samsondeen Adeleye had emerged since December 2014, but
wondered why the state government has kept silence on the development.
Welcoming Sanwo-Olu on behalf of his colleagues,
the kingmakers’ scribe, who is also the Ashipa of Ikeja, said the community had
implicit confidence in his ability as the new governor “to correct this
anomaly.
“We welcome Your Excellency and pray for a fruitful
tenure for you and your team, but we also appeal that you intervene in the
delay in installing an Oba for Ikeja, as we, the kingmakers, had taken a
decision on the issue five years ago.
“When the last Olu of Ikeja, Oba Rafiu Matemi
Amore1, joined his ancestors in October 2014, we called for nomination from the
next Ruling House, which is the Oshoja Ruling Family.
“Only Pince Adeleye indicated interest by writing
us a letter. So the kingmakers under the leadership of former Lagos State
Deputy Governor, the late Chief Rafiu Jafojo, consulted the Ifa oracle, which
approved of the candidate, and we did the necessary native rites before
presenting his name to the Ikeja Local Government authorities.
“Ever since then, we have not heard from the state
government which is in a position to approve the choice of the Oba-elect.”
He said the delay in installing the Oba-elect had
led to the politicisation of the Ikeja traditional institution, which he
regretted had led to various disaffections among the natives, a situation he
described as inimical to progress.
Titi-Thomas, however, thanked the governor for
appointing “an illustrious indigene of Ikeja, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, as your Chief of
Staff,” noting that “we can assure you that he will never let you down.”
He also hailed his choice of Alhaji Hakeem
Muri-Okunola as the Head of Service, describing the new appointee as “a tested
hand, who holds the traditional institution in high esteem.”
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