LASG intervenes in Lagasa kingship tussle to forestall crisis

In a bid to maintain peace and security of lives and security within the state, the Lagos State government has intervened in the looming crisis trailing the kingship tussle in Lagasa town.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode waded into the kingship crisis at Lagasa town in Ibeju local government area, over alleged plans to suppress the Obas and Chiefs Laws of the state.

The governor in a letter signed by Mr Kola Aileru on behalf of the Chief of Staff directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to look into the matters causing trouble in the community.

The directive was sequel to a petition dated January 31 sent by the head and principal members of the Oyinubi Ogunga Baruwa Odofin Chieftaincy family comprising Sunmola Adekoya Baruwa, Gbadamosi Alausa Baruwa, Bello Baruwa and Amusa Baruwa branches sent to the governor through their counsel, Paul Ogundele.

The family also sent copies of the petition to the Commissioner for Local Government, Oba Rilwanu Akinolu, the Executive Secretary, Ibeju Local government, the Chieftaincy Committee, Oba Tajudeen Elemoro of Oke Odo Iwerekun-ibeju and Secretary, upgrading Chieftaincy Committee.

The petitioners in their letter before the governor, 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 the signatures of Baruwa Odofin family was fraudulently obtained 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 by Chief Shabakiu

Chief Shabakiu however denied the claims of the petitioners, insisting that he has a right to be throne of Lagasa town through his maternal grandfather Shabakiu whose story was corroborated by the reigning Onibeju of ibejuland, Oba Rafiu Olusegun Salami, who stated that 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 titled arrived the town in 1777.

He said that to date, no Odofin has ever been appointed “baale” in the area emphasizing that all those appointed the traditional monarch of the area have always come from  the Ogundare Dawodu and Ajoro families.

He 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, don’t own the land saying that the title ‘Odofin’ was conferred on each of them by the reigning Onibeju of Ibejuland.

Shabakiu insisted that he had overwhelming support of the five families of the Odofins of the town claiming that five persons from each of the families supported his nomination during a meeting held at the local government council secretariat on the matter.