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 Isheri Olofin: Who Is Afraid of the Oba-elect?

By Lanre Olaleye

Isheri-Olofin, an ancient Awori town tucked in the centre of modern civilization in Egbe Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State is currently troubled following the demise of Oba Ayinde Wahab Balogun at the ripe age of 95 years.

For almost two years after the passage of the nonagenarian monarch on February 8^th 2022, the town has been without a king with controversy trailing the selection of a new king as candidates are locked in fierce battle for the throne.

Though, Isheri Olofin has had its own fair share of tussles among princes to the throne like other Awori towns and communities but that of Isheri stool seems more intensed. The Onisheri of Isheri stool carries a more influential toga as the monarch by custom and tradition of the ancient town is the major land owner. “The king exercise authority far above everything including land. Hence, who so ever becomes king exercise absolute authority and control on all lands in Isheri. And this is why the battle for the throne has become fierce among the candidates,” a source confided in The Snoop during a recent visit to the town.

Poignantly, such absolute authority played out during the reign of the late Oba Balogun when he became the only land owner in Isheri as no family exercise ownership of any land in the town. In the process, Oba Balogun became more influential and wealthy, profiting mostly from the sale of land across the length and breadth of the town, 

The sale of land soon became a legacy for the Balogun Family as his first son, Prince Idris Balogun a.k.a Oluomo Kafata successfully rode on his father’s influence to annex acres of lands in the community. With his deep pocket, he became a fearsome terror, terrorizing the community with thugs and miscreants recruited to do his biddings. However, the untimely demise of his father meant Oluomo is about to lose his influence with a new king ascending the throne.

But the fiery prince has chosen to dine with the devil by seeking to influence his own choice, Prince Hakeem Akanji Ogundeyi as the new king as against the choice of the Kingmakers who had selected Prince Ibrahim Olasunkanmi Lawal-Bello from the Olanwa Ruling House as the Oba-elect of Ishreri-Olofin town.

Indeed, the emergence of Prince Lawal-Bello followed a rigorous selection process instituted by the Kingmakers in accordance with the guidelines of the Chieftaincy Law of Lagos State. As custom demands, the Ifa Oracle was consulted and Prince Lawal-Bello was most favoured among the contestants. He beat four other contestants which include Prince Hakeem Akanji Ogundeyi, Prince Atobatele Adebowale Ojunnu, Prince Sulaiman Raji Adebiyi and Prince Lukman Jaiyeola Adebiyi. Nine Kingmakers took part in the election out of which five voted in his favour, three others voted for Ogundeyi while one voted for another candidate.  

 

But the emergence of the Oba-elect did not go down well with the embattled Oluomo  who allegedly plotted schemes to thwart the installation of the new king. He in connivance with the Regeant of the town and his brother, Chief Biliaminu Kolawole Balogun made a counter announcement of Prince Hakeem Ogundeyi as the new king much to the chagrin of the entire community.

But Kingmakers rejected the subterfuge imposition by denouncing Ogundeyi’s choice through a letter addressed to the Executive Chairman of Egbe/Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon.Kunle Sanyaolu Olowoopejo stating emphatically that Prince Ibrahim Olasunkanmi Lawal-Bello remain the authentic Oba-elect.

The development prompted the council boss to send out circular for fresh election to be conducted among the Kingmakers at the council secretariat on December 13^th 2023 to choose the new king. However, a day before the election, it was reportedly cancelled indefinitely due to ‘security report’. Sources say the council chairman reportedly bowed to pressure from powerful forces as Prince Lawal-Bello was certain to gain the Kingmakers approval if the election was to hold again.

After much persuasion from prominent indigenes and critical stakeholders across the state, Hon. Olowoopejo eventually bowed to good reasoning by forwarding a letter recognizing Prince Lawal-Bello as the Oba-elect to the Ministry of Local Government Administration, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development for further action. This came as a rude shock as Prince Ogundeyi backed by the late Oba’s son, Idris Balogun headed to the court to stop Prince Olasunkanmi Ibrahim Lawal-Bello from being installed as the new monarch of Isheri-Olofin Kingdom.

 The current litigation over the royal stool has, therefore, negatively impacted on the socio-economy of the town as both indigenes and non-indigenes have become restive as hired thugs continue to unleash terror on those opposed to the choice of Prince Ogundeyi. Many have been arrested and detained by the police while opponents have been forced to flee the town for fear of being attacked by hired thugs.

However, some residents spoken to by our correspondent during a recent visit to the town, however, remained calm and hopeful that truth will eventually prevail over falsehood. “We have chosen to remain patient and calm if that is the prize we have to pay for freedom from slavery. Prince Lawal-Bello is our new king; the Oracle said so and we all want him. We are prepared to wait for him to be pronounced as the rightful king of Isheri-Olofin Kingdom,” says Muftau Obanibashiri, a carpenter in the town.

Other residents, however, appealed to the state Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu  to show keen interest in the selection of a new king to maintain peace and bring development to the town.