Orimedu: Trouble in Lagos community as indigenes tackle Ambode’s commissioner over Kingship tussle

The relative peace in Orimedu community appears to be threatened following an ongoing tussle over who becomes the next monarch of the Lagos Island suburb. 

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The crisis BlackBox Nigeria has learnt is as a result of certain interests scheming to install an individual who has not been traditionally qualified to become the next Onimedu of Orimedu. On Tuesday, indigenes of the community stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly chanting solidarity songs against the Commissioner of Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami who they accuse of attempting to scuttle the process of selecting a new king. The protesting party also visited media houses particularly Lagos Television, LTV where they aired their grievances. 

On making further enquiries, BlackBox Nigeria was told that Muslim Folami who is also an indigene of the town is attempting to use his office in the state to install his stooge as a king. The commissioner was alleged among other things of scuttling the traditional process to select his boy as the next Onimedu which has made many in the community rise against him. 

According to a youth leader who spoke to BlackBox Nigeria on condition of anonymity, Mr. Folami has connived with some individuals to pick someone illegally as the next king. 

“The crisis is being caused by the commissioner who wants to install his boy as a king. He failed to make him party LGA Chairman and has been planning on any possible way to take over the leadership of the community,” the aggrieved youth leader lamented. 

It was further revealed that the man who is being allegedly imposed by the commissioner is a certain Ibrahim Akodu whom he failed in getting the Party chairmanship slot last Congress of the APC. 

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Another elderly man in the community who spoke which BlackBox Nigeria disclosed that the process to select a new Oba which has already begun is totally illegal, null and void. 

According to him, the Oba selection can only begins after a traditional rite period of 7 months from the time the last monarch died. However, the schemers started their own process months ago thereby disobeying tradition and disrespecting the spirit of the late Oba. 

BlackBox Nigeria further gathered that the late Onimedu of Orimedu, HRM Oba Amusa Atiku died on October 23, 2018 and if the 7-month alleged period was to be respected, then nothing should be done as regards selecting a new Oba until April. 

The Tuesday protesters however reveal the Lagos state commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami has begun his planning since last year by “scheming” to get his stooge to become Oba. It was also alleged that Folami and his “co-schemers” have now doctored a family meeting minute to back their decision to install Ibrahim Akodu as the next Oba. 

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In documents made available to BlackBox Nigeria, the Kingmakers of the community met on January 6th, 2019 to discuss the Obaship. 

“It is this minute that will be produced as the document of agreement to install Akodu the new Onimedu,” a source said.

Protesters however claim this meeting never held but the actors only forged a minute so that it will appear as if the entire community represented by the kingmakers have approved the selection of Ibrahim Akodu. 

One of the salient points raised by the aggrieved indigenes is the attendance of the meeting. According to the document released to our correspondent, seven kingmakers attended the meeting to deliberate. They are ‘The Shashore of Orimedu, Olisa of Orimedu, Ashipa of Orimedu, Jagunmolu of Orimedu, Iwajoba of Orimedu, Eletu of Orimedu and the Apebi of Orimedu. 

The critics however reveal that the whole process was only forged because the Apebi of Orimedu, Chief Kazeem Fatai who was alleged to have attended the meeting actually died in July, 2018, three months before the King also died. 

“In all their criminal activities, they went ahead to forge documents and even claimed a kingmaker who died before the king was part of a meeting which held in January this year. These people are pathetic,” an aggrieved indigene who spoke to our correspondent lamented. 

For clarification, BlackBox Nigeria enquired about the process for the selection of a new Oba and was duly informed that all the community is divided into two: The Ekos and The Ijebus. 

Both are however subdivided into three quarters each. 

Eko has Oke Oshodi, Oke Oba and Oke Popo while Ijebu has: Oke Ekun, Abejoye and Ipatun. 

The late Onimedu of Orimedu is said to have emerged under ‘Ipatun’ while Oke Oshodi is expected to present the next Oba. 

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BlackBox Nigeria was also reliably informed that there are 11 families in Oke Oshodi and all of them are expected to bring one person each as a contender for the kingship before the kingmakers who will decide on who is the most qualified but Ibrahim Akodu has already been chosen by a select few through the backdoor. 

Although also son of the Oke Oshodi quarters, Ibrahim Akodu who doubles as the Akinrogun of Orimedu Land is being placed on top of all other 10 families who believe they also have a right to present a candidate for the throne. The families accuse Muslim Folami of attempting to install Akodu who is his puppet after failing to make him the APC chairman of Ibeju Lekki twice. 

It was further alleged that Mr Muslim Folami who is a commissioner under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode worked against his principal’s party during the last general elections. It was alleged that his grouse was because his preferred aspirant wasn’t wasn’t given the ticket by the All Progressives Congress so he worked against the interest of the party. 

“The primary aim of Folami in wanting to install Ibrahim Akodu by all means is because he has lost his political value within Ibeju lekki, and his last hope is to forcefully install against the wish of the community,” a source claimed. 

Efforts to reach the Mr Muslim Folami have however proved abortive as his mobile phone number “cannot be reached” while messages sent to him are yet to be responded to as at the time of filing this report.

BlackBox Nigeria shall however bring you his reaction once he comments on the allegations. 

Some of the youths who participated in the protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly have also raised an alarm over threats to their lives and an attempt to incarcerate them. They are alleging that men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) have been brought into the community to waylay indigenes antagonising the grand plan to crown Akodu. Many of them claim to have fled their homes and are now fighting back from hideouts. 

BlackBox Nigeria was further informed that royal members of the Ibeju Lekki council of Obas have been allegedly bought over by Mr. Folami who reportedly induced them with one million Naira. 

The Obas are expected to pronounce Ibrahim Akodu as the Onimedu later today.