…Asks Sanwo-Olu To Avert Looming Communal Clash
One of the Royal families in Ikeja in Lagos, the Kushemi-Moses Royal Family has raised the alarm over the purported installation of an Oba-elect in the town without the consent and approval of the state government, local government, kingmakers, and the affected royal families.
The family, in a statement by its Chairman, Leke Moses which was made available to newsmen on Thursday, urged the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to act swiftly to forestall the looming communal clash over the development.
The Ikeja stool became vacant about seven years ago following the death of the former king, Oba Raufu Adeniyi Matele Amore, who died on July 1, 2014.
According to the statement, Moses said: “Unexpectedly, our attention has been drawn to the trending videos and news on social media and in some national dailies on the installation of Oba in Ikeja by some people who want to cause a breakdown of law and order in the town.
“The purported installation of this peasant according to them was done by three selected royal families of Ikeja. We ask how can you install a first-class Oba in Lagos State without the involvement of all the royal families, the kingmakers, the chiefs, the Local Government Chairman, and of course the Governor of Lagos State whose office is located in the town of Ikeja?”
The family sounded a strong warning to the man parading himself as Oba-elect and the royal families who purportedly elected the said person as Oba in Ikeja to desist from such activities that could jeopardize or cause divisions among the indigenes, saying: “Obaship stool is a traditional position, therefore, it should not be partisan.”
Moses further said enough of doing things in isolation and that due process must be taken into consideration as to allow peace to reign, just as he said that any illegal act of selection would result in a further legal battle.
The family said historically those who founded Ikeja town were Oshoja, Amori the late Olu of Ikeja known as Amore, Iyade-Ilo, Kushemi Moses, and Balogun who still have their footprints on the ground through their descendants.
The family added that Amori and Amore families have had their turn and that it is now the turn of the Kushemi-Moses family.
“The said usurper does not belong to any of the above families as such cannot be installed an Oba. Therefore, we will not fold our arms without taking action to prevent usurpers from claiming what belongs to the founding fathers of Ikeja land.
“Indeed Kushemi-Moses, one of the founding fathers of Ikeja land, brought Christianity to Ikeja, the present First Baptist Church in Ikeja is a testimony to that.
“We, therefore, as a matter of urgency, call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to act fast on this important issue in order to avert communal clash and avert bloodshed in the kingdom of Ikeja,” the Kushemi-Moses family said.
