- Olamilekan Andu
All the five ruling houses in Amuwo-Odofin Kingdom of Lagos State have reaffirmed the choice of Prince Adewusi Kazeem Olawale as the Oba-elect.
Rising from an enlarged December edition of their family meeting, all the ruling houses – Ija-Oye, Idewu, Omo-Ola, Amogun, and Erogun – said Prince Adewusi remained their only recognised Oba-elect for the Alamuwo of Amowo-Odofin Kingdom.
The ruling houses said they called the enlarged meeting following reports that another person, Tayo Toyin, was being paraded as another oba-elect.
According to them, the united royal family had consulted the oracle – as had been the tradition – and Prince Adewusi was affirmed through Ejiogbe, the supreme voice of Ifa.
They urged the members of the public, the Lagos State government, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to disregard any information emanating from any other channels outside of the ruling houses on the kingship stool.
The elders and other members of the ruling houses re-presented Prince Adewusi to the media and the public as the authentic Oba-elect.
Speaking with The Nation, Prince Adewusi explained why the public reaffirmation became imperative.
He said: ”The major reason we called this meeting was to debunk the rumour that some people have chosen another Omo Oye (heir apparent) beside myself.
“The family has reaffirmed that I remain the recognised Omo Oye of Amuwo-Odofin Kingdom and to let the world know the family’s position on the matter. There is no rancour on the matter. The five ruling houses today affirmed that they chose me.”
Corroborating the Oba-elect, the Yeye Oba Amuwo, Alhaja Kafilat Abimbola Afolabi, said: ”I came for the normal family meeting, but on getting here, I heard there was another person claiming to be the Omo Oye other than the one we all had agreed to, that is, Prince Kazeem Olawale Adewusi.
“There were three persons vying for the stool from the same family. There are three of them, all grandchildren. One is a grandchild from the father’s side; the others are grandchildren from the mother’s side. It’s the one from the father’s side that the oracle chose. That is, Prince Adewusi.”
Also, the Iyalode Tolu from the Ija-Oye ruling family, Chief (Mrs.) Kashimawo Ajiwe said: ”I am the Assistant Secretary of Amuwo-Odofin Royal Family. We usually hold our regular meetings on the third Sunday of every month. So, the meeting was not unusual.
Read Also: Amuwo-Odofin Rep member not our candidate, LP tells court
“But we heard on a popular radio station in Lagos that some women had selected Toyin as the Alamuwo of Amuwo-Odofin Kingdom. That cannot be right. It’s true that the parents of Toyin and Prince Adewusi Olawale Kazeem are children of King Amuwo-Odofin. They have both expressed interest in the stool.
“We had to consult the oracle because they are from the same fifth family in the royal lineage. The other four royal houses agreed for them to produce the king. The oracle that chose Adewusi was Ejiogbe, the king of Ifa divinity. The other oracle that chose Toyin was Ogberi Kusa, which is lower in divination to Ejiogbe. No Ifa divination supersedes Ejiogbe.
“The development was among the major reasons we called the meeting, especially to intimate the media with the truth and our position on the kinship.
Another elder of the royal family and the Aro of Isolo, Alhaji Lateef Akinosi, said: “The ruling houses came to me for the endorsement of the king and I endorsed Prince Adewusi Kazeem Olawale, like others. Later, Toyin came to me for endorsement. I told him that I had endorsed Kazeem Adewusi and that I would not change that.
“I advised Toyin not to waste his money because we had all agreed and endorsed Princce Adewusi. He made some attempts to make me change my position, but I insisted on the general choice.”