A senior member of the Omowumi Abisogun Ruling Home of the Oniru royal household, Prince Razaq Adele, tells TOBI AWORINDE why he believes the just-installed Oba Gbolahan Lawal needs to be dethroned
Your household has rejected the enthronement of the brand new Oniru of Iruland, Oba Gbolahan Lawal. What’s your grouse along with his set up?
The household will not be proud of what we see and what’s going on proper now. To begin with, the problem has been on the bottom for a few years throughout the household — Omowumi Abisogun and (Oba Abiodun) Idowu, the Oba that handed away just lately. However truly, we had been the following in line to the throne and, as conventional rulers, that is our household difficulty. It’s not the enterprise of any politician. No politician engaged in any monarchy difficulty that belongs to them (the household). The one space the place the politicians or governor of the state can are available in is when the household chooses the best particular person from amongst them to develop into king. Then, if all people accepts or the household brings anybody from their completely different areas, then the oracle will appoint from throughout the household who would be the subsequent king. As soon as the oracle is consulted, then the household will agree with it and do the required issues within the conventional means. After that, if the ceremony comes up, they may invite the governor of that state as a visitor.
It’s not the governor that imposes (a king). In my life, I’d by no means seen a scenario the place the governor would simply choose somebody who will not be the member of the royal household to be the king. I don’t know any Lawal as a (member of the royal) household in Lagos State — each Lawal comes from Ibadan (Oyo State) or Ilorin (Kwara State). So, how can a Lawal be in our household? I perceive the man is from Ojora household — that’s the place (his) mom comes from. If he actually is (a member of) our household, let (him) come via the normal channels to show it. They need to ask this man a query: we had achieved that on Monday. The problem continues to be within the courts however, on account of COVID-19 — and the state governor of Lagos State didn’t even abide by the principles of COVID-19 whereas many Nigerians are dying. They requested folks to remain at house and so they had been doing a ceremony unlawfully. This isn’t correct; all these items should change.
Once more, after they put in this man, there was no person in our household – Omowumi Abisogun – that was conscious of it. That is garbage. All this must be stopped. You can not simply put anyone who will not be a member of the royal household within the palace as king. Who gave them the crown? How did he get to develop into the king? No household contacts. That is what’s upsetting everybody. That’s the reason we’re protesting this; that Lagos State governor ought to use his function to ship for true Lagosians, reverse (the set up), take away that man from that palace and comply with the conventional protocol. That’s all I need to say.
Did you hear of the set up on the day it occurred or had been you conscious beforehand?
That’s what I’m saying. It is a shock. I used to be not even advised. What I used to be conscious of needed to do with our king, (Prince Hakeem) Ajasa. That’s the reason we took the case to court docket. I used to be conscious of that and Hakeem confessed that he’s not from the Abisogun household after they went to court docket earlier than Ramadan. I used to be advised about that. So, the court docket nonetheless proceeded and postponed the judgment. We’re nonetheless anticipating (justice). And I used to be advised each native authorities (chairman) who was concerned has been served a letter. It’s like the federal government is even doing issues in an improper means. It went forward to instal a stranger within the palace as king however the household was not conscious of it; it’s not good. That’s what we’re preventing in opposition to.
Are the opposite branches within the household in assist of Oba Lawal’s set up?
What my brother (Prince Babatunde Kabiawu) stated that he wouldn’t know (whether or not the opposite branches are in assist) is true. However now, I can inform you categorically that these folks — Ajasa or whomever — all of them have come again to the household as a result of most of them realised the error they made. As , you will note some ‘onijekuje’ (grasping folks) within the household who would do some issues due to political positive factors and cash. I used to be advised a power-broker in Lagos known as one of many members of the family — they’re younger folks — and provided them N20m. I’m undecided whether it is true; it’s what I heard, and the man stated, ‘No, I’m not going to gather it. We nonetheless have elders within the household.’
Additionally, what I used to be advised, which once more I don’t consider is that they first known as (Aremo) Segun (Oniru) and Segun advised them, ‘No, go and meet the Oniru household.’ Alhaji Surajudeen Durosinmi was not conscious. Alhaji Bilyaminu was very sick and was not conscious of all these items. So, they gathered themselves after the fellows refused to obtain cash from the power-broker and stated, ‘I cannot settle for that.’ So, inside three days, I used to be advised that they needed to inform this man to resign as Commissioner for Agriculture or no matter — I don’t know him — so he withdrew from that publish.
Three days later, on (the penultimate) Saturday, I noticed a video, which had me confused and I requested myself, ‘Is that this the best way they’re doing issues in Nigeria now?’ I belong to the 2 royal households: Adele Ajosun is my father’s household. I’m from a royal household: Adenike Adele. The identical factor on my mom’s aspect; we belong to royalty: Akinsemoyin Omowumi Ajenitoru Abisogun. So, I’m telling you the very fact. I’m actually confused. I’ve not been in a position to sleep. What’s going on in Nigeria? Is it obligatory for these politicians to invade folks’s households, particularly the royal household? After we’re speaking concerning the royal household, we should always know that it’s a no-go zone and no outsider can simply intrude of their affairs. That is the Yoruba custom; we should comply with that. That’s the reason we see that Nigeria will not be secure in the mean time. That is completely different from politics; that is custom. We can not throw away all our values.
We’re not useless; the household continues to be alive, so why would the governor use COVID-19 as a chance to penetrate the household by putting in a stranger when he knew the case was nonetheless in court docket? That is ridiculous! The Lagos State governor used his energy to violate the state COVID-19 guidelines and even the Federal Authorities guidelines. They need to not have enthroned this man. So, with regard to the household, I don’t know which one you might be speaking about, whether or not Segun’s aspect or the Omowumi Abisogun’s aspect.
Prince Ajasa congratulated the brand new Oniru, although he was stated to have been the successor chosen by members of your loved ones. Do you know he was not serious about being the king?
He has confessed that he’s not from Omowumi Abisogun. You say he congratulated the brand new Oniru however I by no means heard that. However I consider it as a result of somebody advised me that. Like I stated, folks should be very cautious after they hear rumours. I’m at all times cautious earlier than I reply to anyone. It is a man that I used to be advised the power-broker within the state stated he would give them some issues; that was why they put in this new one.
I gained’t be bothered about that. I don’t stay in Lagos; I’m based mostly within the UK. We solely obtain info however I don’t know something that has to do with that space. If actually he’s congratulating the brand new king, it’s as much as them. The case is in court docket. I learn the primary report (about it) final yr after they went to court docket. I’ve a duplicate of the newspaper saying my mom and Alhaji Suraju had the facility to pick out the best particular person for the household. After I undergo that newspaper, I by no means see something about this Gbolahan (Lawal), even campaigning to be king or being a member of the Abisogun household, besides Hakeem Ajasa. That’s the one one who was making an attempt to battle for it. I do know that particular person (Lawal) will not be a part of my household; that was why I known as Alhaji Suraju to ask: ‘Who’s Hakeem Ajasa? I’ve been seeing information stories about this man throughout social media.’ He stated all people was shocked and that I ought to simply be affected person as a result of the case was in court docket. When he went to court docket, earlier than Ramadan, even his brother confessed and those that had been near him that he was not from the Abisogun household.
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