By Chukwudi Nweje, Lagos
Two days after the installation of Mr. Sikiru Olamide Williams as the new Oba of Odi-olowo to succeed the former Oba who died in 2019, the Osu-Apena Royal family of Odi-olowo in Odi-olowo Ojuwoye LCDA, one of the ruling houses has rejected the installation of the new Oba.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, in Lagos, the Osu-Apena asked the Lagos State Government to reverse the installation of Williams as Oba.
The Osu-Apena family Williams stated that although Williams is related to them maternally, he is not the family’s choice
for succession to the throne. even as his installation is “without recourse to the laid down rules and regulations governing selection of a candidate to occupy the traditional stool”, and there are ” some criminal and civil matters pending against him in court.”
Alhaji Abdul-Gaffar Raheem-Apena, the family Secretary said, “The installation of Mr. Sikiru Olamide Williams without recourse to the laid down rules and regulations governing selection of a candidate to occupy the traditional stool as laid down by the official gazette came to us as a rude shock.
“Although the said Mr. Sikiru Olamide Williams is related to us through maternal lineage, he was never the choice of the family. This to us is neither acceptable nor palatable. We reject this rape and bastardization of our heritage, tradition and custom. There was never a time the family sat or held a meeting to anoint him as a candidate for the coveted Throne.”
The family Secretary said that there are several cases pending in the courts regarding the Obaship tussle, which the Lagos State Government and the Odi-olowo Ojuwoye LCDA ignored to install Williams as Oba. He quoted a section of the Lagos State Gazette ‘that if it is established that a matter of Obaship tussle is pending in the court , no installation of an Oba should take place’, and alleged that Williams conspired with some people in Odi-olowu/Ojuwoye LCDA and the Lagos State Government to have his way.
He further said, “The Lagos State Government didn’t take cognizance of the provisions of the official gazette in carrying out this distasteful action of installing Mr Sikiru Olamide Williams as Oba of Odi-olowu.”
The family Elder, Alhaji Rahman Rafiu Apena charged the State government to do the right thing, adding that they don’t want a “Kangaroo.”
He said, “I am not here to scatter the family, on the contrary, I am following the family in insisting that the right should be done, there should be no Kangaroo.”
However, when contacted, Oba Sikiru Olamide Williams insisted that his installation followed the due process of the law. He also denied the allegations of forgery against him, insisting that the cases in Court were disposed before the Lagos State Government gave the go-ahead for his installation as Oba of Odi-Olowo.
He challenged members of the Osu-Apena to go to court if they have any grievances regarding his ascension to the throne of Oba.