Kunle Adelabu
About 50 residents of Ijede stormed the State House and the Lagos State House of Assembly complex on Monday to protest what they described as delay in the presentation of staff of office to a new Alajede of Ijede after 13 years since the passage of late Oba Fatai Oresanya, the immediate past Alajede of Ijede in Ijede Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
The clamour for the installation of Prince Kazeem Amusa, who they said the court has validated to ascend to the throne but whose approval is being delayed by powers that be.
The protesters that came in a coaster bus arrived Alausa Secretariat at 8am and carried placards with inscriptions like “A Catalyst To A Peaceful & Progressive Ijede, Prince Kazeem Adetoro Adebayo Amusa”. “Give Amusa His Instrument Of Office Mr Governor”, “You cannot Kill the Zeal In Us. It’s God And Kayzee”, “Hassan Has Been Disqualified By The Court. We Want Ijede To Grow”, “Royalty Is Meant To Be Peaceful Not War That’s Why We Yearn For Adetoro” and “Don’t Change Our Destiny In Ijede” among others.
During the protest, officials of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagements, attended to the protesters with Mrs Kemi Arigbangba, Director, Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement and Mr Abdul Subaru Oladipupo, an Assistant Director in the same office leading the Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement team.
Mr Tajudeen Ojikutu, who led the protest to the Alausa Secretariat said that they were left with no option except to use the protest in calling the attention of the Lagos State Government to the plight of Ijede people concerning the delay in the presentation of staff of office to their choice, Prince Kazeem Amusa.
“When the late Alajede of Ijede passed on Hon. Saheed Hassan who was the Chairman of Ijede LCDA, that is after serving eight years at the Lagos State House of Assembly, used his power to delay the Obaship process.
“The Ajanaku family had embarked on selection process and picked Prince Kazeem Amusa by consulting Ifa.”
He alleged that the Alajede chiefs instead of accepting Prince Amusa as the candidate of Ajanaku Family for the Alajede stool embarked on written and other screenings which he said are not part of the process of selecting an Oba in Yorubaland.
He further said that the issue later led to court case which he said was in favour of Prince Amusa after 12 years battle.
“After 12 years of protracted battles including court cases, the law courts ruled in favour of Prince Kazeem Amusa.”
He stated that aggrieved residents are protesting because of the Lagos State Government’s failure to present the staff of office to Prince Amusa last month after they were informed that the Commissioner for Local Government is bringing it to be presented to Prince Kazeem Amusa.
“This is an abuse and slap on our faces because we were told by a monarch in Ikorodu (name withheld) that the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, Mr Robert told him they were bringing the staff of office to be presented to Prince Kazeem Amusa on August 15th, unfortunately, he did not come.
It was on Thursday, August 15th that the Kabiyesi (whose name is withheld) called again that the Commissioner would not be coming again for the presentation of the staff because of an injunction on it, but there is no injunction on it.”
He alleged that they got to know that it was Hon. Hassan that prevented the presentation of the staff using federal power.
He said that the situation if not properly handled and made to reflect people’s aspirations might lead to an unfortunate situation and he also appealed to the government to do proper investigation on the matter.
A woman among the protesters, Alhaja Ajoke Sulaimon, who also spoke canvassed for the emergence of Prince Amusa as the next Alajede.
Attending to the protesters, Mr Oladipupo, Assistant Director, Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Lagos State, enjoined them to conduct their affairs in peaceful manners while also assuring them that they will contact the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to know more about the matter.
He also assured them that all the parties in the matter – Ministry of Local Government, representative of the protesters and other parties, will be invited to hear from them and resolve the matter.
While asking the protesters to avail his office their protest letter and copy of the court judgment, Mr Lasisi, also pleaded they should be given two weeks to conclude their intervention.
