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Scores of indigenes of Ikorodu in Lagos State on Thursday demonstrated at the Lagos State House of Assembly calling for the removal of the newly installed Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Shotobi succeeded the late Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, who died on August 3, 2014 at 83.
The protesters pleaded with the lawmakers to impress on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode their dissatisfaction with the choice of Shotobi.
They accused the former Governor, Babatunde Fashola, of performing a “kangaroo coronation” for the monarch three days to the expiration of his tenure.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as: Kabiru Shotobi, stay in your position as Odofin of Ikorodu; and BRF- 3 days to exit, you created problems for Ikorodu.
Others are: BRF – Where in Yorubaland is staff of office given before Iledi Oshugbo and Ipebi?; BRF – No programme for the palace commissioning and staff of office.
The protesters were led by Prince Oluowo Adeyeri, Prince Oluwafemi Sodipo and Prince Taoreed Olanrewaju Sotubi.
Addressing newsmen at the gate of the Assembly, the leaders of the protesters pledged their support to Ambode, but urged the governor to ask Shotobi to step aside.
They maintained that Shotobi was not the choice of the kingmakers and the ruling house in Ikorodu.
According to them, it is the turn of Lasunwon House to produce the next Ayangburin.
They said Shotobi could not move from the position of Odofin to become the monarch.
According to them, this is contrary to the long established tradition in Yorubaland.
Prince Adeyeri recalled that no Odofin in Yorubaland had ever become an Oba.
He said in the election conducted by the ruling house, Shotobi scored just four votes as against 15 by another candidate.
Adeyeri said: “Fashola, three days to the end of his tenure, installed Shotobi as oba under the pretext that he wanted to commission a new palace in the area.
“No palace was commissioned and no Oba attended the event.
“The installed Oba did not make use of the ancient ‘Iledi’ (royal preparatory house).
“But he (Shotobi) chose to perform the traditional rites at an ‘Ipebi’ he built personally.
“The so-called coronation of Kabiru Shotobi is null and void.
“Ikorodu is a beautiful town and nobody should throw a bombshell on it.”
Another leader of the protesters, Sodipo, said: “We want Shotobi to remain as Odofin.
“He is a kangaroo Oba.
“The way Fashola and the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Mr. Abiodun Kuye, played on our intelligence was not good.
“We don’t want crisis.
“Shotobi was not chosen by Lasunwon Ruling House.
“He is still the Odofin.
“He was defeated by 15 against 4.
“He is in Ipebi, which he built by himself.
“He has refused to use the traditional Ipebi because he knows it is an abomination.
“It is the turn of Lasunwon.
“Nobody chose Kabiru.”
NAN reports that no principal officer of the Assembly addressed the protesters before they dispersed.
NAN.
