Community Calls For Monarch’s Removal

Prince Jide

FEAR has enveloped the entire Ketu-Ejinrin community, in Ikosi-Ejinrin Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, as a result of agitation for the removal of their present monarch, the Alaketu of Ketu kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Adefowora, who they claimed is an impostor.

Those calling for his head, which include elders, chiefs and youths of the community, who do not want their names mentioned for the fear of victimisation, have accused the monarch who was installed 10 years ago of high-handedness, under-development of the community, harassment, breaking of traditional rules and illegal seizure of lands, in being kingpin of land grabbers.

Already, the crisis has claimed its first casualty, with the sacking of the Odofin of the community, Chief Koya Rufai, an aged man.
It was gathered that since the monarch was enthroned, he has no crown because he didn’t perform all the traditional rites necessary for the post, thereby incurring the wrath of the deities.

He was also accused of defiling a deity called Okooro, whose head must not be touched by any monarch. To the surprise of the chiefs, he held the head of the masquerade the day it came out, which is a taboo with grave consequence.

The Guardian learnt that the crisis worsened on Sunday, November 1, 2015, when the son of the former monarch, Prince Jide Adefowora came home from abroad for the remembrance ceremony of his father, but was denied by the monarch, who claimed that he should have been informed earlier. This led to a confrontation that led to the fresh agitation by the community.

It was gathered that the late father of Jide, Oba Adeyemi Adefowora, an elder brother to the father of the present monarch, was beheaded years ago; after which Jide was chosen by the oracle as his father’s successor.

An elder in the community disclosed that the mother, knowing the circumstances surrounding the death of his father, flew him out of the country. Based on immigration issues he could not come home when the need arose, which led to the installation of Oba Adegboyega, who also lives abroad. He was reported to have been installed by the chiefs, in flagrant disobedient to the choice of the oracle.

The community is now appealing to the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to urgently look into the issue, to forestall imminent breakdown of law and order, by installing the rightful owner of the throne.

When the prince was contacted on phone, he claimed that it was his Uncles and Aunties that put Oba Adegboyega on the throne and since they want him removed, he should toe the line of honour.
“Petitions had already been written to the governor to this effect. Now, he is threatening to kill me by sending hired killers, though some members of my family are behind him, but the entire community and the chiefs want me to assume the throne.

When the embattled monarch was contacted, he told The Guardian that it is a family issue, which has been settled. He denied the allegations leveled against him, describing them as mere stories that were framed up by his chiefs. “It is a mere family issue and I have little to say about it because the family who put me there had intervened.”
He however, warned that since the case is under investigation with the police, that it should not be published.