Ibeju Kingship crisis: I have right to be on throne of Lagasa

The Aro of Ibeju Land, Chief Yisa Shambakiu has denied the allegations that Oba Tajudeen Elemoro of Oke Odo Iwerekun wanted to impose him as the king of Lagasa town, adding that he has the right to be on the throne of the town through his maternal grandfather

Speaking with the newsmen in Lagos, Shambakiu said he is not a stooge of Elemoro and he cannot impose him on the people of Lagasa town. He posited that all those appointed the traditional monarch of the area have always come from the Ogundare Dawodu and Ajoro families.

Chief Shambakiu response was sequel to a petition written to the Lagos State government by the Head member of the Oyinubi Ogunga Baruwa Odofin Chieftaincy family over the kingship crisis at Lagasa town in Ibeju Local Government.

The petitioner alleged plans to suppress the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Lagos State “by some powerful elements in Chieftaincy Committee of the Ibeju Local Government Area” to install the Aro of Oke-Odo Elemoro, Chief Yisa Shabakiu, described as a surrogate of Oba Tajudeen Elemoro, as the King of Lagasa town.

They alleged that Chief Shabakiu fraudulently obtained signatures of Baruwa Odofin family in a letter captioned “Letter of Agreement and Understanding” under the false pretences of promoting and sponsoring the general interest of upgrading the incumbent Odofin, Chief Samusideen Amusa Baruwa to the position of a king.

Shambakiu denied the allegations; he insisted that no Odofin has ever been appointed “baale” in the area till today. He said he was born and grew up in Lagasa and that his maternal grandfather, Ogundare Dawodu who migrated from Ile Ife founded the town in 1672 while the first holder of the Odofin title arrived the town in 1777.

His story was corroborated by the incumbent Onibeju of Ibejuland, Oba Rafiu Olusegun Salami, contended that all the incumbent holders of the title of Odofin in Lagasa are visitors in the town as their fore fathers migrated to the place and as such, do not own the land saying that the title “Odofin” was conferred on each of them by the reigning Onibeju of Ibejuland.

He said, “ I have spent all my years in Lagasa and I have the support of the five families: Ajoro, Ogundare, Bello, Odofin and Alausa, five persons from each of the families supported my nomination during a meeting held at the local government council secretariat on the matter.