…Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, Oba Akiolu can’t be unaware of this – Eminent Lagosians
…Oba Elegushi must be held responsible for any missing person in his kingdom”
…Why should a traditional ruler engage himself in politics instead of maintaining neutrality? – Eminent Lagosians ask
…Say Elegushi attempting to disenfranchise non-indigenes, and women from their rights to vote
…FG, IGP, and Lagos CP must speak up against this obnoxious announcement, stop Elegushi – Lagosians
By Kemi Kasumu
There is palpable tension in Eti-Osa area of Lagos State, Nigeria’s most complex state, as a traditional ruler, the Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III, declared Oro Festival ahead of Saturday, March 18, 2023, Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in the state.
But residents in the axis have vowed to defile the order of the traditional ruler, saying it is an election rigging plan of All Progressives Congress (APC) and that they would not allow any political game to deprive them of exercising their constitutional right of free movement at any time, especially at this time they are keeping vigil to resist any mid-night activities of election riggers, who they say usually begin three days to elections day.
The fear now is for chaos not to erupt because, the residents have also prepared to meet the Oro cultists fire for fire, which they say is the reason the Federal Government, Lagos State Government, and Oba of Lagos must rise to the problem before it snowballs into serious crisis.
“Bola Tinubu is in Lagos. Governor Sanwo-Olu and Oba Akiolu are in Lagos. They cannot be unaware of what the Elegushi has done. They should stop him immediately. Let them even deny the announcement. Let Elegushi even tell the world that it is fake news. Any attempt to set Lagos on fire because some traditional rulers are involving themselves in partisan politics can only lead to regret,” an eminent indigene said in a separate interview with our report.
The findings of our team of media investigators are that, the traditional ruler said to be one of many installed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, using successive governors in Lagos State, was indicted in the electoral violence and ballot snatching that marred the presidential and national assembly elections of Saturday, February 25, 2023.
It will be recalled that polling units were said to have been strategically mounted at the frontage of Elegushi Palace, in the Ibeju-Lekki Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the Lagos, at which level the monarch, whose role was expected to be the “father-of-all”, was reportedly fingered in the electoral violence.
According to an investigated report published by The DEFENDER on Tuesday, President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose interest the Oba among others is said to be working for, relocated to Lagos and has been living not in his Bourdillon, Ikoyi residence but at a location in Victoria Island, since few days after he received his Certificate of Return from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, February 29.
Although the report did not mention Tinubu’s name, the descriptions fitted to the person of the President-elect, who it gathered was directing all the activities of his foot soldiers which peaked in the early morning invasion of Akere Spare Parts Market, Ajegunle, Apapa area of Lagos, during which the masked APC armed invaders started by killing the security man on duty, despite his pleas, and burned that the Igbo traders’ centre of business.
In a circulated public announcement sighted by this team of investigators on Wednesday, some of the circulatory banners said, “Oro la maa fi le won lo !!!” meaning, with the strangely timed occultism called Oro Festival, the teaming population of voters, who have made up their minds for change in Lagos State and won’t vote for APC, would be chased out.
The notice says:
“PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT!
“HRM. ALAYELUWA OBA SAHEED ADEMOLA ELEGUSHI, KUSENLA III. ELEGUSHI OF IKATE KINGDOM AND ENVIRON.
“WISH TO ANNOUNCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ORO RITE WILL HOLD IN THE IKATE KINGDOM AND ITS ENVIRONS FROM TOMORROW WEDNESDAY 15TH MARCH 2023 TO SATURDAY 18TH MARCH 2023. (3DAYS)
“RESIDENCE AND PASSERSBY ARE WARNED TO STAY INDOORS OR STAY OFF THE KINGDOM BEFORE MIDNIGHT THAT THE RITE WILL COMMENCE AT 5:30 AM ON EACH DAY.
“THIS EXERCISE IS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL, PLEASE LET US COOPERATE AND COMPLY WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDLESS OF YOUR STATUS.
“HIS ROYAL MAJESTY REGRETS ANY INCONVENIENCE.
“ONILU ONI JE KI ILU O TU
OLORUN ELEDUMARE A GBA IWURE WA. ASE O. . . . . . ”
In a post further gingering up the public announcement, an APC supporter said:
In the meantime, reactions have started trailing the action of the Elegushi as eminent Nigerian citizens, who are blue-blood indigenes of Lagos State, are saying the behaviour of the supposed Oba is highly provocative.
The eminent personalities among them retired military officers, Federal, state servants, and captains in the private sector said the Elegushi, like others, should lead the Omo Eko Pataki course but is joining the “unconstitutional hegemony” of Lagos by non-indigenous Yoruba living in Lagos, is not showing a good example as traditional rulers.
In a comment said to represent the thought of all the eminent indigenes, a call was made for the Oba to be held responsible for any damage done or case of missing persons in the kingdom.
“This Oba should be held responsible if people are missing in his kingdom.
“Why should a Traditional Ruler be engaging himself in politics instead of maintaining neutrality?
“The police must maintain the peace and safety of all Nigerians in every inch of Nigerian territory.
“The Kabiyesi is clearly going outside his duty by threatening innocent people with his utterances under the guise of tradition.
“He is not above the law. Lagos State does not belong to a clique of oppressors. Kabiyesi, EFEFI ORO DA ILU RU, BI ILU BA BAJE ODI OWO YIN.”
The statement said, “3 days’ Oro rites in Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom (15-17 Mar) is mind-boggling. It’s designed to intimidate and kidnap people for ritual, create conditions for rigging and fear to keep voters indoors from voting.”
It said, “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, INEC Chairman, Lagos State Government must all be made aware and made to stop this irresponsible ‘Public Announcement’ by Kabiyesi.
“This is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise all non-indigenes and all women from their rights to vote. The Inspector General of Police, The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State must also speak up against this obnoxious announcement.”
Efforts to know what action the Lagos State Police Command is taking on the emergency Oro Festival amidst election tension proved abortive, as calls and messages of inquiry to state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were yet to be returned as at the time of filing this report.
