Badagry residents seek end to chieftaincy dispute

The sleepy community of Ete land in Oto-Awori Local Council is currently enmeshed in conflict over who the rightful traditional ruler is.

When The Guardian visited the community, tucked along the borderline of Badagry, it was a smooth boat ride to the Idi Ogba compound in Ete village at the weekend, where the palace of the Elete if Ete, Oba Moshood Olanrewaju Lawal, is situated.

But the calmness was a façade as the monarch later revealed. Reason for the conflict, he said, was that his crown being challenged by one Nofiu Owoiya, who he claimed did not belong to any of the ruling houses in Ete land but enjoyed the recognition of the state government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

“I have ruled as the Elete since being sworn-n on September 29, 1998. On September 27, of the same year, the kingmakers called for a general meeting in front of the palace. All the power of attorney of families, all the Afobajes, and all the ruling houses came together to present me to the community as their Oba-elect.

“We proceeded to the local council for approval and layer moved to the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs at Alausa for official recognition. There was no dispute about the stool until lately, when a group of people were instigated to foment trouble in the land,” he said.

Efforts to get the reaction of Owoiya proved abortive, as he didn’t respond to inquiries sent to his mobile phone. However, a youth leader, Olajumoke Jeunola, appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to intervene in the brewing crisis and nip it in the bud.