The Ajah Community in Lagos State held a peaceful protest for the third time at the Governor’s office on Monday, sending a Save Our Souls message to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu concerning the proposed imposition of the Olumegbon family as the new Ajah traditional ruler.
Lagis Panorama reports that residents had previously staged similar protests on 28 November and 9 December at the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Governor’s office, respectively, seeking intervention.
The General Secretary of the Ajah Community, Alhaji Kazeem Odunlami, who led hundreds of protesters to the Governor’s office on Monday, stated that Ajah residents urgently require the Governor’s intervention.
Odunlami highlighted that the residents are clamouring for Governor Sanwo-Olu to halt the planned imposition to prevent any form of conflict in the community.
He noted “We were here on 28 November, 9 December 2024, and we are here again today to make our submission and show solidarity with our people in Ajah before our governor, the talk-and-do governor.
“We insist on the governor’s intervention because it has come to our notice that there is a plan to impose a traditional leader upon us in Ajah”.
“We are here for the third time to protest peacefully to inform the governor about the planned imposition of the Olumegbon family as a traditional ruler in the Ajah community.
“We don’t want the governor to listen to misleading misinformation regarding the ownership of Ajah.
“We all know that the state government may not be aware of the planned imposition, so we are here again to bring it to his notice.
“We are begging the state government to save our souls from this imposition to avoid communal clashes in the Ajah community.
“All the families of Ajah say no to the Olumegbon Family’s superimposition as the Ajah Community’s ruler.
Ajah Community seeks Peace.”
“Olumegbon has never ruled the Ajah community from time immemorial; it will not change now!”
“For over 300 years, the Baale of Ajah has been the one ruling the Ajah community, and that is our culture and tradition,” he said.
The General Secretary appealed to the governor to take bold steps and act promptly to save the community from imposition.
He noted that under the state’s customs and traditions, the chieftaincy title of Olumegbon of Lagos was not associated with the rulership of the Ajah community.
Odunlami declared that the only legitimate chieftaincy in Ajah since colonial times was the Baale (Olomodi) of Ajah, adding that Olumegbon had no historical or judicial background to become the Oba of Ajah. Odunlami reaffirmed that the Ajah community would never accept the rulership of Ajah by the Olumegbon family, as the family has never ruled the land from time immemorial.
Addressing the protesters, Mrs. Kemi Arigbangba, the Deputy Director of the Office of Political, Legislative, and Civic Engagement, Lagos State, urged the protesters to remain calm while their request was presented before the state governor.
Arigbangba assured the protesters that the matter would be treated promptly by the governor as soon as the House of Assembly resumed, so it could be discussed effectively.
“We assure you that your plight will not be swept under the carpet; we will push it for the governor as soon as possible for urgent intervention.”
