….Describe Lana’s claims as a charade

The Kingmakers of Ise Kingdom, led by High Chief Aliu Tiamiyu Akanni, Ojon of Iseland, have reaffirmed the nomination of Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu as the authentic Oba-elect, the Onise of Ise Land.

Speaking through their legal counsel, Barrister Saheed Bakre at a Press briefing held at the Okuoye family compound, Ise Community, the kingmakers stated that the process of the selection was duly followed where all the leaders voted for Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu as the Oba-elect, Onise of Iseland.

Other leaders who reaffirmed the community position on Prince Saliu as the Oba-elect include the head of Okuoye Ruling House, Chief Alidu Ligali Adewale, the Secretary, Adewale Hassan Okuoye; High Chief Balogun Akeem Adebomehin, Olisa of Iseland; Chief Kasali Nureni – Oloritun Igbekodo of Iseland, Youth leader, Mr Owolabi among others.

The members of the community who were present at the event also gave a voice confirmation signifying the wide acceptance of Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu as the Oba-elect.

The Community urged governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the state to fast track the process and install Prince Adebowale Saliu as the traditional ruler, adding that the report of the Kingmakers has been sent to the Executive Chairman of the Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Rasaq Bamidele Kasali for onward transmission to the state for approval and installation.

“Our position is that we urge the governor to approve Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu as the Onise of Ise Land, and his subsequent installation as the rightful traditional ruler.”

Barrister Bakre emphasized that under the Chieftaincy Declaration of Ise Kingdom and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State 2015, no individual can ascend the throne without the explicit selection and voting of the kingmakers. “The Kingmakers have voted and made their choice clearly known in the report sent to the local council.”

According to him: “In compliance with the above, the Okuoye Ruling House submitted a list of Thirty five (35 ) candidates to the Kingmakers on 20th April 2026. In line with the Chieftaincy Declaration of Ise Kingdom and Section 17(1)(d & e)(i-iv) of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State 2015, the four (4) Kingmakers unanimously voted for Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu as Oba-Elect, Onise of Ise Kingdom. All relevant documents were duly signed and forwarded to the Executive Chairman, Lekki LCDA on 22nd April 2026.

It has come to our notice through TVC News and some print media that one Barrister Babatunde Ekundayo Lana is parading himself as a consensus candidate of the Okuoye Rulling House and the Kingmakers, a claim the Kingmakers- in-Council and both the Head of the Family and Secretary have all denied unequivocally.

We state categorically that this claim is not only mischievous but false, misleading and a misrepresentation of facts capable of causing disaffection and breach of trust. For better clarification, the Head of Okuoye Rulling House could not have denied other contestants the right to aspire as Oba by nominating one contestant but rather the family chose to give a level playing ground and equal opportunity to aspire by sending all the names of the Thirty Five (35) contestants to the Kingmakers in the Family letter dated 20th, 2026.

Nevertheless, the claim of consensus can only take place where all other contestants decided to step down and unanimously chose to adopt a sole aspirant to the throne of onise of ise. We therefore challenge Barrister Babatunde Ekundayo Lana to produce the evidence of his nomination as consensus candidate duly signed by both the Okuoye Rulling House family Head, Secretary and approval the Kingmakers of ise kingdom.

 

We wish to State that Barrister Babatunde Ekundayo Lana having exercise his right to contest being number Twenty Five (25 ) on list forwarded by the Okuoye Ruling House to the Kingmakers should not turn round to denigrate the exalted seat of Onise of Ise because he did not win the contest.

We hereby admonish Barrister Babatunde Ekundayo Lana, a proud Son of Okuoye Rulling House not bringing the name of the family to a disrepute with his infamous conduct of impersonation and misrepresentation which are not with attendant consequences.

Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu remains the only candidate duly selected and approved by the Kingmakers in accordance with law and tradition of Ise Kingdom.