PALACE GIST: The Lasunwon Royal Family of Ikorodu land has warned Chief Kabiru Shotobi to desist from parading himself as the new Oba-elect of Ikorodu.
According to the Ruling House of Ikorodu, Chief Shotobi, who is also the present Odofin of the Kingdom, is not fit to describe himself as the incoming Ayangbure of the land without duly getting their approval.
In a press statement issued during a meeting with journalists at the Lasunwon Family House on Thursday, the family ruled that three-quarter of the four ruling families are not in support of the rulership of the present Odofin because he had asked to be exempted from the next chieftaincy title that is due and available to the family.
Addressing journalists on the matter, Alhaji Alade Adekogbe, Secretary of the Lasuwon Ruling House, explained that, “there are four families, which make up the Lasunwon Royal House; Lambo Lasunwon, Odujumo Araba/Ewujebe, Odusajo and the Adegorunshen, where Shotobi is from.
“In order to become the Odofin of Ikorodu, Shotobi and other families had agreed, according to a court suit, that he would not be involved in the next chieftaincy title that is due and available to Lasunwon Ruling House.
“Now, he has gone ahead to make some false claims with the Kingmakers, whom he is supposed to be with in deciding who becomes the next king, and now parades himself as the new Oba of this land.”
The Olisa of Ikorodu, Chief Oludele Odusogo had during a Press Conference at the Oba’s palace on Tuesday, confirmed the authenticity of Chief Kabiru Shotobi as the Oba-elect.
“We even consulted the Oracle and we had a vote to decide who our next Oba should be. And I can categorically tell the public that the next king of our great kingdom is Chief Kabiru Shotobi.
“We only await the approval of the Lagos State government, which will validate his candidacy before we continue with other processes,” the Regent of Ikorodu land had told reporters.
But the other members of the Lasunwon Ruling Family do not agree with such claims, noting emphatically that no oracle was consulted in reaching an agreement to make Chief Shotobi the next King of Ikorodu.
“We the Lambo, Odujumo Araba/Owujebe and Odusajo branches of Lasunwon Ruling House predicate our stand on the definition of chieftaincy. We therefore hold that the Kingmakers, who are fully aware of the consent judgment quoted are desirous to upset the Applecat.
“This is mischievous and we urge the government of Lagos State to call the Ikorodu Kingmakers to avoid a repeat of the disaster of 1952, which engulfed Ikorodu after the demise of Oba Adenaike Alagbe,” the family scribe added.