January 27, (THEWILL) – The Kushemi-Moses royal family has called on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to, as a matter of urgency, act fast on the controversy surrounding the ascension to the vacant stool of Olu of Ikeja in order to avert communal clash and unnecessary bloodshed in the kingdom of Ikeja.
The Kushemi-Moses family also warned those parading themselves as the new Oba-elect and royal families which purportedly elected another person as Oba in Ikeja to desist from such activities that could jeopardise or cause divisions amongst the indigenes. Maintaining that the Obaship stool is a traditional position that should not be politicised.
The family, in a statement signed by its chairman, Leke Moses, affirmed that the Amori and Amore families have had their turn as the Olu of Ikeja, stressing that now is the turn of the Kushemi-Moses family to ascend the throne.
The statement reads: “Within the past seven years, the stool of Oba of Ikeja has remained vacant after the death of the former king, Oba Raufu Adeniyi Matele Amore, who died on July 1, 2014.
“Unexpectedly, our attention has been drawn to the trending videos and news on social media, and in some national dailies on the installment of Oba in Ikeja by some people who want to cause breakdown of law and order in the town.
“The purported installation of this peasant, according to them, was done by three selected royal families of Ikeja. We ask how can you install a first class Oba in Lagos State without the involvement of all the royal families, the kingmakers, the chiefs, the Local Government Chairman and, of course, the Governor of Lagos State, whose seat of office is located in the town of Ikeja?
“The family of Kushemi-Moses, through their family chairman, Leke Moses, warns those parading themselves as the Oba elect or royal families who purportedly elected an illegal person as Oba in Ikeja to desist from such activities that could jeopardise or cause divisions amongst the indigenes. The Obaship stool is a traditional position therefore it should not be partisan.
“Enough of doing things in isolation as due process must be taken into consideration as to allow peace to reign. Any illegal act of selection will result in further legal battle.
“According to history, those who founded Ikeja town were Oshoja, Amori the late Olu of Ikeja known as Amore, Iyade-ilo, Kushemi Moses and Balogun, who still have their footprints on ground through their descendants.
“Amori and Amore families have had their turn, so this is the turn of the Kushemi-Moses family.
“The said usurper does not belong to any of the above families as such cannot be installed as an Oba.
“Therefore, we will not fold our arms without taking actions to prevent usurpers from claiming what belongs to the founding fathers of Ikeja land.
“Indeed the Kushemi-Moses, one of the founding fathers of Ikeja land, brought Christianity to Ikeja, the present First Baptist church in Ikeja is a testimony to that.
“We therefore as a matter of urgency call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to act fast on this important issue in order to avert communal clashes and avert bloodshed in the kingdom of Ikeja.”
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