The next family in line to fill the vacant stool of Oniju of Iju-Ogundimu, Ilupokiki in Lagos State has appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in the issues delaying the installation of the next monarch after all the processes of selection has been completed.
Addressing journalist, thehead of Ilupokiki ruling family which claimed to be next to present the next monarch, Alhaji Adesoji Rahmon Asalu, said it has been discovered that some scrupulous elements are working underground to disrupt the normal process of selecting the next king.
He said: “The family is yet to understand what is delaying the installation of the new monarch to fill the vacant stool. All the required documents to fill the vacant stool of Oniju of Iju-Ogundimu had been submitted to the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs through the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs in Ifako-Ijaye Local Government for over four years, but we are not hearing any positive response from government.
“We the next family in line to fill the vacant stool of Oniju of Iju-Ogundimu, Ilupokiki, and is hereby debunking the claim by one of the ruling houses that all the three ruling families have unanimously agreed to the candidacy of Prince Gbolahan Mathew Ogundimu, who is parading himself as newly selected king, meanwhile he is from the same ruling family of the late Oba Elijah Olanire,” He said.
The statement reads in part, “We the family of Ilupokiki and Aganran ruling houses, which happen to be the next in succession to the throne of Oniju of Iju-Ogundimu, have read with utter dismay, the release made by the office of the Chairman of Ifako-Ijaye local Council Area, which was made to mislead the general public that all the three ruling families in Iju have agreed that Prince Gbolahan Mattew Ogundimu, who is also a member of Ogundimu ruling family, same family of late Oba Elijah Ebelamu Olanire who joined his ancestors in 2018. This statement is not only misleading, but it is also an attempt to subvert the rule of law, by attempting to disregard the Chieftaincy declaration of Iju-Ogundimu as approved by the Lagos state government”.
He stated further that there are three (3) recognized ruling houses in Iju and they are; Ogundimu, Ilupokiki and Aganran.