Members of the Onikoyi Royal Family in Lagos State have rejected the recent installation of a new Oníkòyí of Ikoyi and Moba Land, describing the process as illegal and a violation of the established chieftaincy declaration guiding succession to the throne.
On Tuesday, nine out of the 10 branches of the ruling house staged a peaceful protest at the old palace of the Oníkòyí in the Idumota area of Lagos Island.
The aggrieved ruling house accused the Lagos State Government of breaching the rotational succession arrangement enshrined in the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006, published in Gazette No. 45.
According to the family, the throne was due to rotate to the Ojulari branch following the passing of the late Oba Patrick Ibikunle Onikoyi of the Fafunwa lineage in 2023.
They lamented that the state government, instead, favoured a return to the Fafunwa family, an allegation denied by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, who noted that the government followed due process because its role is merely “to be present and present the staff of office, which was what the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs did.”
However, the Onikoyi Royal Family maintained that “Our family followed due process. Nine of the 10 branches selected me, Prince Abdul Omogbolahan Sulaimon Onikoyi, as the Oba-elect on December 9, 2023.
“There were just four people at the so-called installation today. That tells you everything,” Prince Omogbolahan told journalists at the gathering on Tuesday.
He continued, “This is not about me. It’s about respecting our tradition and the law. What they are doing is bastardising not just our royal system, but also the legislative, judicial, and traditional institutions.
“We will not be silenced. We will protest lawfully until the right thing is done.”
Prince Omogbolahan also hinted at political interference in the process, accusing some government officials of deliberately stalling his installation to push through an “illegality.”
“If they do not address this matter properly, we will head to court. This is the fight of nine families, not just mine. It is not even about installing me. Let the law be followed. Let there be peace in our family,” he added.
The Olori Ebi (family head) of the Ojulari branch, Akinyemi Esinlokun, also appealed to the state government to uphold fairness.
“We want to appeal to the government to do the rightful things and not impose anyone as our king or chiefs, as there is a system in Lagos for electing chiefs and Obas,” Esinlokun said, noting that peaceful demonstrations will continue until the matter is addressed.
The family said it had written letters to the Eti-Osa Local Government, the Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Affairs, and the Governor’s Office shortly after Prince Omogbolahan’s selection but received no response.
A suit has since been filed at the Lagos State High Court to compel the government to recognise the family’s chosen candidate.
The case, before Justice Opesanwo, is slated for hearing on September 18, 2025.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed that the government was aware of the protest by some members of the royal family over the installation of a new monarch.
He, however, described such dissent as not unusual in the selection process of traditional rulers.
Omotoso said, “The ministry (Chieftaincy Affairs) confirmed that it is true that some people are protesting the choice of Oba, but that is not unusual. The most important thing is that the government followed due process.”
He explained that there were multiple contenders for the royal stool and that the eventual monarch emerged through the family’s recommendation.
“There were about five contenders, and the installed monarch was selected based on the recommendation of the family,” he said.
While acknowledging internal disagreement within the family, Omotoso clarified that there was no legal restriction barring the installation.
“It is true that there’s a disagreement within the family. There was no court injunction stopping the government from installing the monarch,” he added.
According to him, the government’s role was limited to presenting the staff of office, which was done in line with established procedures.
“The ministry followed due process. The role of government is to be present and present the staff of office, which was what the ministry did. When you have this kind of situation, it is not unusual,” Omotoso said.
PUNCH.
