It has come to the notice of the good people of Odo Nla kingdom that some certain elements parading themselves as backers of suspended Otunba of the kingdom, Olanrewaju Afuwape, purportedly went to the palace of the Oba of Ikorodu, Oba Adewale Shotobi to perform what can be best described as a Nollywood drama movie. From a report in a community online news medium, it was gathered that Oba Shotobi reportedly single-handedly nominated Afuwape as Oba-elect of Odo Nla kingdom.
Really? Who conferred on Oba Shotobi the power to make anybody king in Odo Nla when Odo Nla is not a vassal town of Ikorodu? Won’t you then agree when we said that some people went to the Ikorodu palace of Shotobi to act a Nollywood film?
Well, it is time we put up a bold public notice of disclaimer ‘BUYERS BEWARE’ as regards the Obaship matter of Odo-Nla kingdom because we have since passed that stage as we already have our valid Oba-elect in the person of Prince Elias Olusoga Olowolekomoh.
It is important to state at this point and, for the benefit of the general public, that:
1. Olanrewaju Afuwape has already been stripped of his title as Otunba of Odo Nla and Oba Shotobi has no power or authority to declare or validate anybody as Oba-elect of Odo Nla. As a matter of fact, l Afuwape is desperately fighting a lost battle with a litigation against the Omo-Oba Meta Royal family and ruling house, and stakeholders of Odo-Nla community with a view to have his stripped chieftaincy title reinstated. But the family is not perturbed having already completed a valid procedural nomination and selection process which has already produced a replacement for a new Otunba of Odo-Nla community respectively. Therefore, the public is hereby advised that all or any attempts by Oba Shotobi and Afuwape to continue to designate or refer to the latter as ‘Otunba’ is merely an impostor’s pretentious fallacy and delusions to hoodwink and deceive the public at large. Jointly, both of them have lost the plots with no immediate or long term recourse to this effect. Their shameless circus show henceforth is inconsequential except for it’s crass entertainment values.
2. In the same vein, Oba Shotobi is desperately battling to salvage his status with infractions bordering on contempt of court charges to answer as instituted against him by the Justice of Ikorodu High Court for contravening a validly issued court order and shirking his responsibility on Odo Nla Obaship resucication matter in his capacity as the Chairman, Ikorodu Division Chieftaincy Council respectively.
3. Afuwape has been effectively suspended by about 43 main and sub Olotus in the three ruling houses of Odo Nla, the heads of Oluobas, the youth leadership and women leadership before he ran to court for an interlicutory injuction to ask not to be permanently removed. His lawyer intentionally did not submit the suspension letter to the court. Until the court rules otherwise, Afuwape remains suspended as Otunba.
4. It was a painstaking and thorough exercise that produced Olowolekomoh as Odo Nla Oba’elect. Sequel to the formal announcement from the office of the Olotu Omo’ba Meta Royal family, Odo-Nla, via a press conference at the community Town Hall on Thursday, 4th January 2022, it became imperative for the office once again to issue another official statement in the public’s interest to dispel the ubiquitous rumours, lies and petty propaganda emanating from the quarters of disgruntled individuals and interlopers and none Omo’ba Meta Royal family members, coming up with so many different manipulated unrealistic stories: “That, Prince Olusoga Elias Adeyemi Olowolekomoh is the most suitable and perfect Oba-Elect according to the best Odu Ifa prognosis and divination interpretations of the oracle consults, as acknowledged by non Omo’ba Meta Royal family members Odo-Nla, different twisted and fictious stories that shall all be discredited accordingly at the tribunal soonest. It is also without doubt that he possesses sterling quality leadership skills, sets of sound moral character and mind complimented by high level educational background in conjunction with his verified amiable charitable disposition and relations with different segments of the Odo-Nla community at large. With the above findings and recommendations, it is beyond any doubt that Prince Olowolekomoh in all finality emerged as the consensus Oba-Elect in a unanimous decision and agreement between the entire Omo’ba Meta ruling houses of Ogbodo, Raselu and Upenyenwa respectively prior to the official announcement and formal presentation to the Odeyemi (Ofinran) Fidipote Royal Family at large, including general members of the public in Odo-Nla.
And just recently, all the heads of the three ruling houses – Ogbodo, Raselu and Upenyenwa – signed a joint statement affirming the decision of the Omo Oba Meta led Obaship committee at the Palace of Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Shotobi, who was present with his cabinet and large number of Omo’ba Meta Royal family members at the special resolution gathering.
One of the ‘Nollywood actors’ that went to the palace to perform, according to the news report, was Gbadamisi Sulaimon. It will interest members of the public to know that he is just an insignificant member of hundreds of Gbeto family household, which is a sub-branch of Ogbodo ruling house to which he is not accorded any executive position or responsibility and representation in the Gbeto family. He is best identified as another ‘stomach infrastructure’ induced sycophant surreptitiously recruited by Oba Shotobi and Afuwape to compliment their comedy of error roadshows of worthless values. All members of the public are hereby updated and duly informed that the Odeyemi Offiran Royal Family of Odo Nla Community at large home and abroad has painstakingly completed and executed the valid screening and selection process of their Oba-elect in the person of Prince Olusoga Elias Adeyemi Olowolekomoh, and he has been duly ratified and recognised by competent authorities without any reservations.
The trio of Opeyemi Taiwo, Gbadamosi Sulaimon and Oba Shotobi cannot sit down and gather some residents (as represented by some isolated CDA members and clerics, who are by no means or stretch of credible imaginations, recognised as principal stakeholders of Odo-Nla community to partake in any selection process of an Oba elect for Odo Nla respectively. It should therefore be identified as an inconsequential exercise in futility against any lawful procedures and legitimacy. It was a poorly scripted Nollywood drama movie.
Olowolekomoh’s link with Ikorodu Royal Family
Olowolekomoh is much more of royalty than even Oba Shotobi in Ikorodu Division and outside. He is a true son of Lasunwon Royal family that is also entitled to the sit of Ayangburen of Ikorodu. As Shotobi descendant, Oba Kabiru is only his older uncle and nothing more which he knows.
Infact, before his emergence in Ikorodu about two-and-a-half decades or less, Olowolekomoh have been putting business structures around the prime areas of Ikorodu to contribute his quota in eradicating poverty and unemployment.
During the reign of of the late Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, Olowolekomoh enjoyed visiting the palace in the 80s to 90s; then the Ayangburen, who was a father figure, often prayed for him, sometimes in the presence of his uncle Chief Magistrate Afolabi Jayesinmi Bamofin of Ikorodu at Kabiesi’s petrol station at Sabo Ikorodu.
Life can be funny sometimes. Olowolekomoh so much enjoyed the Ayangburen palace and the late King during the reign of Rademo Royal family, which he is not part of, but now that he is part of the Lasunwon Royal family, the present Ayangburen, Oba Shotobi has been extremely oppressive to him together with his people in Odo-Nla after he has given generously, repeatedly, all that was requested by same elder brother the King and others.
If Oba Shotobi fails to change his ways with his cronies and hands off Odo Nla Obaship issue, the people of his family (which Olowolekomoh is part of) and by extension Ikorodu would be forced to begin process that will lead to his removal as King. There are so many competent and more qualified candidates to take his place
Salamotu Shotobi and Bello Shotobi are the only two siblings from the same father and mother.
The father, Prince Shotobi is a product of three royal families
1: Omo Oba Lasunwon
2: Omo Oba Akarigbo Koyelu and lastly
3:Omo Oba Adegorushen.
Adegorushen hails from Lasunwon Royal Ruling house, Ejina Ikorodu and the mother, Princess Efungunle from Itundofin ikorodu,
The Father Prince Shotobi from the Lasunwon ruling house, Adegorushan compound Ejina.
The mother, Princess Efungunle, hails from Itundofin, the Fuewu Odufowote ruling house of lasunwon. Adegorushen compound Ejina.
Automatically both siblings are members of the Ayangburen Ruling House, Ikorodu.
Bello Shotobi known as Baba Olumale was the father to Bisiriyu Shotobi, the father of the present Ayangburen of Ikorodu.
His only sister from Shotobi, Princess Salamotu Shotobi, popularly known as Erelu Tashe and Iya Obun – Oke was my great grand mother, later got married to the son of Pa Balogun Jaiyesinmi, a formidable Warrior whose name was Sarumi Jaiyesinmi at Jaiyesinmi compound Obun- Oke.
Sarumi Jaiyesinmi was also a product of the three royal families.
1: His father was the son of Oba Afonlade Osan, the king of ijebu Ode Remo.
2. His mother Mabunmi Paternal side was the son of of Oba AKARIGBO Anoko of Remoland and
3. Maternal side was was Oba Afirukere gboye, Ajalorun Ijebu Ife respectively.
With this narration, as a Jaiyesinmi from Sarumi Jaiyesinmi Obun Oke,
1. Olowolekomoh is also a Prince from Oba Akarigbo Anoko from Remoland Shagamu.
2. Olowolekomoh is also a Prince from Ode- Remo.
3. Olowolekomoh is also a Prince from Oba Afirukere Gboye Ajalorun of Ijebu Ife
In 1863-1865, Pa Balogun Jaiyesinmi led the Wompari war which was during the reign of Oloja Ogunlaru and the war was victorious, this brought about the popular song in yorubaland ‘DURO DEMI nbo sokoto egba nsa lo’.
This made Ikorodu a socio political force in Ijebuland.
Pa, Jaiyesinmi was the first to be accorded 21-gun salute by the then colonial Governor of Lagos State, Governor Freeman.
Thanks to the 19th century war which had positive effects on the internal development of Ikorodu town, Pa. Jaiyesinmi’s victory at the war front made him powerful, popular, highly influencial, strong, feared and eventually overshadowed the the Oloja who was the King and Osugbo who were the then ruler and governing council respectively.
With his intimidating stature of sevrnft, his popularity soared around Ikorodu and it’s environs, Remo and Ijebuland.
He wielded so much power with his wealth and controlled over 400 slaves.
With taking over power by another colonial Governor, this time Governor Carter, Pa, Jaiyesinmi paid him a courtesy visit, he found Pa Jaiyesinmi very impressive and mistook him for Oloja not knowing that he was the head of the Army
By 1894, Carter realised his mistakes but still did not withdraw his over rated recognition on Pa Jaiyesinmi rather he commented that, ‘if a man is a king, he should govern and not be governed,’
Instead, he proposed that Oloja should receive an annual stipend of £50, while Pa Balogun Jaiyesinmi got £100, the same amount paid to the aaþ of Remoland under the 1894 agreement.
Between 1894-1901, Lagos State established local government council for Ikorodu. Pa, Jaiyesinmi was the chairman being the highest paid man in the council.
Subsequently, he later became the first chairman of Ikorodu local Govt council established by Gov. Carter of Lagos State colony in 1894.
With the above, illustrations, Olowolekomoh is also a Shotobi and member of the Ayangburen Ruling House of Ikorodu through his maternal grandmother who was Salamotu Shotobi (Iya Obun oke). Being a kind and selfless person she was, she extended her hands of support and love to her brother’s son who was Bisiriyu SHOTOBI, the father of KABIRU SHOTOBI, the present Ayangburen by giving him a free hand to use (Her husband compound); at AtewoJaiyesinmi Orun Eko for wood chair and table rentals as his only source of income.
It did not stop there, her first son and second born known as Tukur Jaiyesinmi (Baba Saheed), Olowolekomoh’s uncle who was equally a younger brother to Olowolekomoh’s grandmother Asimowu Jaiyesinmi wife of Jimoh Olowolekomoh popularly called Megida.
This Tukur Jaiyesinmi (Baba Saheed) took it upon himself and took Kabiru Shotobi, the present Ayangburen of Ikorodu with him in Mushin and sponsored his education as well often took him along with him everytime he was going to his pool house office in Mushin as furtherance to his training.
Issa Shotoùù, immediate older brother to Kabiru Shotobi and a father to only a son called Alhaji Jamiu who is a younger brother as well as P. A. to Oba KABIRU Shotobi in his palace.
Going by whole narrations, Olowolekomoh is from an affluent background of seven first class, highly respected royal families in Ijebuland while Kabiru Shotobi Shotobi, Ayangburen of Ikorodu only hailed from ONE, and that one is Lasunwon Adegorushen Royal family which Olowolekomoh is also part of.
Oba-elect Olowolekomoh is also a direct descendant and son of Princess Jewunola on Lagos Road – Majidun- Omo Ologede, the daughter of Akarigbo that married a Prince of Ijebu Ode and gave birth to 16 females, no male and now the Owutu Royal family Owutu Ikorodu but at present being headed by a Baale called Aluko.
Olowolekomoh is from the lineage of the first daughter who went to Igbogbo to marry an old Ife blacksmith, Ifemosu by name. They gave birth to first son and first born Radelu that did and owned so much large portion of farm land from Igbogbo to Aga where is known to be Olowolekomoh’s main paternal compound to this moment. The descendants of the first son migrated from Igbogbo to Aga and other members remained in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Alade Olukotun Baale Aga and Ismaila Olukotun Olotu Radelu are younger brothers from same Radelu descendants.
HRM Oba Kasali Adegoruwa of Igbogbo, HRM Oba Hakeem Oyebo Obateru of Egbin, HRM Oba Langbasa on the Island are all first cousins of Olowolekomoh.
In a nutshell, Olowolekomoh is ñ from the entire three (3) parts of Ikorodu which makes him a bonafide son of Aga, .Ijomu and.Isele respectively, and so,he is in a pole position to declare that Oba Shotobi was never a member or part of Jayesinmi family descendants.
We enjoin all and sundry especially true sons and daughters of Odo Nla community and other well wishers to please beware of fake and fraudulent misrepresentation of facts in connection with the above subject matter and the impostors involved in such despicable acts.
Adedipe is of Raselu Ruling House
