Onibeju Stool: Kingmakers Warn Individuals Posing as Oba-Designates

The traditional chiefs and kingmakers in the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State have cautioned some individuals parading themselves as Oba-designates to desist from doing so.

The head of the kingmakers, Moshood Musefiu, made this known at the palace of Onibeju on Friday.

Musefiu said the process of selecting a new king had been concluded, adding that the name of the Oba-designate who emerged as a result had been forwarded to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for ratification.

He said, “The vacant stool of the Onibeju of Ibeju has been contentious since the passing of our last king. The process of appointing a new Onibeju takes a long process. The kingmakers went through this process and arrived at a conclusion. And after that, we sent the report to the Local Government chairman who forwarded it to the Lagos state government.”

He further stated that those parading themselves as Oba-designates were doing so in violation of the law.

He said, “To our surprise, the family of Oniwolu are parading one or two persons as Oba-elect which is against the Obas and Chiefs’ law of the state, and I will implore everyone to talk to their children that such habit is not welcomed, because the power has already been given to the executive governor of Lagos State and he will exercise his power. And aside from the governor, no one has the power to announce anyone. Once the governor is done with reviewing the report, he will announce to us. That is our position here.”

He also noted that the accredited Kingmakers of Ibeju-Land include: Ogbeni-Odi, Idogun, Bobagunwa, Aro and Shasore.

“The committee are the recognised body by the Obas and Chiefs’ law of the state to declare and pronounce an Oba-elect. Both declarations of Ibeju Kingdom and the Lagos State Law of Obas and Chiefs did not at any time mention and recognise any other group of committee or persons for the declaration of Oba-elect,” he added.