OSHODI OBASHIP TUSSLE: FAMILY URGES RESIDENTS TO SHUN DIRECTIVE BY COMMUNITY LEADER

By NBF News

The protracted crisis over the Obaship tussle in Oshodi area of Lagos State took a new turn at the weekend as a family, Arota Ologun family, advised residents and traders within the community to shun the recent pronouncement by a self proclaimed 'Oshodi Oba elect', announcing rituals and festivals in the area.

The Supreme Court had jointly declared Oshodi/Arota Ologun families as the owners of the vast land. Advising residents to shun the announcement by a 90-year-old man, Chief Yisa Eyifunmi, who claimed to be the Oshodi Oba- elect, the head of Arota Ologun Family, Chief Teslim Adeola Almaroof, said the only person that could give directive on any festival or ritual to be performed in the area was the regent, Alhaji Musendiku Akesode.

He also anchored his position on the Supreme Court decision in suit number SC/53/95. It would be recalled that a community based organization, Oshodi Indigenes Elders Forum (OIEF) recently called on Lagos State Governor, Raji Fashola (SAN), to urgently intervene and call to order Chief Yisa Oseni Eyifunmi who had been parading himself as the Oba elect of Oshodi.

The group, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Chief Ola Atanda and Secretary, W. Oseni, respectively said the governor as the Chief Security Officer of the state, should not allow law and order to break down in Oshodi area because of the lawlessness of one individual.

The group stated that since there was an existing Lagos High Court order setting aside the purported installation of Chief Eyifunmi as the Baale of Oshodi, he had no moral or legal rights to be laying claim to the title.

'As law abiding citizens of the state, we are bringing this to your notice, about the constant disobedience to the court order made since May 4, 2007 by Justice Morenike Obadina, setting aside the purported installation of Chief Eyifunmi as the Baale of Oshodi and ordered the parties to maintain 'the status quo antebellum'. '

Chief Eyifunmi was reported to have been referring to himself as the oba-elect in several statements issued recently.

The order made by Justice Obadina followed a suit instituted by Chief Almaroof seeking court's declaration that by virtue of the native laws, custom and tradition of the indigenes of Oshodi town in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, only land owning families within Oshodi were eligible to aspire and be appointed to the stool of the Baale of Oshodi town.

He also sought a declaration that Olusi Onigbesa Family, comprising of Odujaguda and Agedegudu families of Oshodi town by the Supreme Court decision was eligible to aspire or seek to be appointed or succeed to the stool of the Baale of Oshodi town. Defendants in the suit include Chief Yisa Eyifunmi, Chief Azeez Dada, Mr. Saliu Bakare and attorney general of Lagos State.