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By Chukwudi Nweje
The Osu-Apena Royal family of Odi-olowo in Odi-olowo Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has rejected Tuesday’s installation of Mr. Sikiru Williams as the new Oba of Odi-olowo to succeed the former Oba, who died in 2019.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, the Osu-Apena family, one of the four ruling houses asked the Lagos State Government to reverse the installation of Williams as Oba. The family stated that although Williams is related to them maternally, he was not the family’s choice for succession to the throne and that his installation was “without recourse to the laid down rules and regulations governing selection of a candidate to occupy the traditional stool.” The family also alleged that he has some criminal and civil matters pending against him in court.
The family secretary, Abdul-Gaffar Raheem-Apena, said there were several cases pending in the courts regarding the Obaship tussle and quoted a section of the Lagos State gazette which states that if it is established that a matter of Obaship tussle is pending in the court, no installation of an Oba should take place.
He said: “The installation of Mr. Sikiru 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. 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 bastardisation 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 Lagos State Government didn’t take cognisance of the provisions of the official gazette in carrying out this distasteful action of installing Mr. Williams as Oba of Odi-olowu.”
When contacted, Oba Williams insisted that his installation followed the due process and denied the allegations of forgery, insisting that the court gave the Lagos State Government the go-ahead to install him 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.
