Society Gists

…. The historical facts that may edge him out of the coveted royal throne

What is filtering out of the ancient Oniru Royal Kingdom of Lagos State, may be akin to a dramatic or folkloric presentation by the principal actors in the ensuing and festering succession tussle since the last Oniru of Iruland, Oba Idowu Abiodun Oniru joined his ancestors, but truth be told, the scenario is a crystal truth, as you will find out later in this very intriguing story that borders on customs, traditions, rights and privileges. Of course, ascension to kingship when one dies always involves disputes and disagreements over who succeeds the out gone and demised one, but no sooner than a consensus one is picked by the kingmakers, a truce is made and swords are sheathed by other contenders to the throne. The case of Iruland is however riddled with complexities and riddles that can only be solved amicably by those in authority. As it were, ‘It is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to be one. Fortune bestows it on one, while the other begets it by merit,’ so wrote philosophic writer, Petrarch. These age-long potent words would perhaps aptly describe the sense of entitlement that erroneously pushed out the desperation of former Lagos Commissioner for Waterfront, Aremo Segun Oniru, the now presumed heir apparent to the late Oba Idowu Oniru’s dynasty, to ascend the throne vacated by her late father, without any opposition from any one.Before now,many ordinarily thought that the powerful Iru throne and kingship is the exclusive right of the Idowu Abiodun Oniru dynasty, and this perhaps is the fulcrum which Aremo Segun Oniru is relying on. But just few weeks after the grand burial of the billionaire monarch at the Eko Atlantic canopy of bliss, a new and very intriguing dimension has reared its head, as surprisingly,the story of a Chief superintendent of Police, Prince Hakeem Ajasa, has opened a can of worms with a new angle to the succession tradition to the throne of the vast and wealthy Iruland, which has it on record that the throne/stool of the Oniru of Iruland, which is ascendable by rotation in order of succession, belongs exclusively to three major (3) Ruling Houses, much to the chagrin and astonishment of many, who have held on tenaciously to the belief, albeit unsuspectingly, that the revered stool exclusively belongs to one ruling house, which produced the immediate past Oniru, the father of Aremo Segun Oniru. Prince Ajasa, with historical facts at his disposal, revealed much that now that the stool is vacant, his ruling house is the next in line to ascend the throne, via rotation, and thus by extension.Today Prince, Hakeem Ajasa, has intensely begun his journey to the throne of Oniru of Iruland in Lagos State, all things being equal. He was given rousy and welcome as he rode into the Iru land days back. Prince Hakeem Ajasa is from the illustrious Abisogun Ruling House, which is by rotation the next in line to the throne that became vacant a few months ago, following the demise of Oba Idowu Abiodun Oniru. Ajasa, an experienced police officer, was Chief Security Officer to former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. A few months ago, he was also appointed as Chief Security Officer to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. A man of excellent gait and commanding presence, Ajasa was presented by Chief Kashimawo Bello to the heads of Omowunmi, Ewumi, Omisade and Oresanya families, which unanimously constitute the Abisogun Ruling House. And, following the presentation, Ajasa may soon be presented by the officials of the Iru/Victoria Island Local Government ,to the Lagos State Government for endorsement, approval and ratification as the next Oniru of Iruland, if the guiding rules and existing laws are strictly followed and adhered to. After the announcement, he will then proceed to the traditional “Ipebi,” for the traditional rites of a new king-to-be, in accordance with the custom. Prince Hakeem Ajasa’s presentation was unanimously endorsed by top elders from the ruling house, including Chief Biliamiu Sanni Abisogun, Chief Rafiu Ogunbambi Olisa, Adebiyi Abisogun, Chief Saliu Abisogun Odofin, Chief Tajudeen Kafaru, Abiodun Ajasa, Baale Igbosere Chief Salau Isa, Kabiru Oseni, Hameed Oseni and Jide Oniru.
Interestingly, immediately after that declaration, with Ajasa’s grand entry into the Iruland cosmopolitan area of Lagos with a rousing welcome by the people who seem to love the emergence of the Oba Elect; the family of the demised Idowu Abiodun-Oniru family, in a quick and swift action, went and declared Aremo Segun Oniru, via his younger siblings and a couple of their family and Iru high chiefs, who are not even the Afobajes, the kingmakers in the selection of a king in Iruland. And this was when the whole drama began and it has been a very interesting one to watch as it has been unfolding in the past few weeks. But given the historical facts that were availed this stable, there may be more than meets the eye in the imbroglio. Many have dug into history that the Yesufu Abiodun laboured so much and so long for the family, but he died at the moment and verge of victory, without enjoying the fruits of his labour, and they also conceded to his direct son, Idowu Abiodun. Many are now asking, even if the immediate late Oba Idowu Oniru was the first crowned Oniru, is it morally right for his son, from the same lineage to be crowned the next Oba at the expense of other royal families that constitute the entity called Oniru Royal Kingdom? Except, you want to tell us that the other two families do not have any royal link to the Kingdom. The late Oba Idowu Oniru was first capped Chief Oniru before he was upgraded to a first class king in 1995, and he became a Chief through his Akiogun branch of the Oniru family. So it was not as if the kingship was created for him. The kingship was created or upgraded for Oniru family and not a branch of the family. If you agree that there is no way we can separate the chieftaincy title from the kingship, then it will be fair for the Akiogun branch of the Oniru to allow other branches to occupy the now vacant stool that they have occupied for about 80 years. The immediate Oba Oniru’s father was in charge of that kingdom for 50 years. He died in 1984, and there was a body set up by the family to administer the affairs and properties of the Oniru family, which was said to have been headed by the late Oba Oniru. He was in this capacity for 10 years, before he was capped as Chief Oniru, then to Oba Oniru. The best the proponents of Akiogun family can do now is to tell the public that the other two branches are not linked to the Oniru Royal Family. If not, for fairness, equity, and to maintain peace and orderliness in that kingdom, the next ruling house should be allowed to occupy the vacant royal stool. As it stands now,while Prince Hakeem Ajasa may have legitimate right to the throne,the desperate Aremo Oniru,is banking on his billions and vast connections to cheat Prince Ajasa out.