Onigbanko Stool: Community Youths Seeks Gov. Sanwoolu Intervention
Governor Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos State
Youths and indigenes of Igbanko Community, in Oriade Local Council Development Area, Lagos, have appealed to the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, to stop alleged sinister move by someone who is bent at disrupting the processes of enthroning an Oba in the community. 
The move of installing unelected person, one Sheriff Bello, as Onigbanko Kingdom of Abule Osun, according to the indigenes of the community, is said to be supported by some people in Ojo, Badagry and Amuwo-Odofin areas of the state.
The indigenes of the community, while condemning alleged move of installing the said unelected person as their monarch, also appealed to the state government to refrain from giving the said Sheriff Bello any assistance he needs to become the Oba of Onigbanko kingdom, as they said he is not a legitimate claimant to the throne of their ancestors.
The indigenes in a release issues and signed by Lasisi Fasasi, the youth leader, Onigbanko Youth Forum, reads in part: “our attention has been drawn to the sinister move of one Sheriff Bello and his team to install himself as the Oba of Onigbanko Kingdom of Abule Osun, Ojo, Badagry and Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State.
“While we condemn the criminal move of installation, we use this opportunity of this press release to appeal to the state government to refrain from giving the Sheriff Bello any assistance he needs to become the Oba of Onigbanko kingdom because he is not a legitimate claimant to the throne of our ancestors.
“Going down the memory lane, the stool of Onigbanko as a First Class monarch came into statutory recognition in the 16th century (1632) after a history of more than 700 years as a chieftaincy family. For the avoidance of doubt and by the Chieftaincy Declaration of 1956, the ruling houses in Onigbanko Kingdom which covers the following communities are as follows; Esepe, Obele, Imushin, Araromi-Ale, Etegbin, Abule Oshun, Muwo, Ashogun, Tedi and other communities.
“The ruling houses are however divided as follows; Abigun Royal Family, Ambosede Akanni Royal Family, Aina Oko Royal Family and Kobiti Royal Family.
“It is worthy of note that all the royal houses have all produced candidates as Obas by equal rotation and compliance to the Chieftancy Declaration of 1956. It’s now the time of Abigun Royal Family to take his turn to be the Oba of Onigbanko Kingdom.
“We hasten to also inform the general public that during the first tenure of the Abigun Family, HRH (Oba) Bello in 1944 – 1954 was the king of Onigbanko Kingdom and the Oba Bello represented the Bello branch of the Abigun family leaving the Molade and Oribogunje branch who are also descendants of the Abigun ruling house to produce Oba.
“To the dismay of the Abigun family particularly the Molade and Oribogunje branch of the ruling house who are supposed to produce the Oba by rotation one Sheriff Bello, whose grandparents were former beneficiary of the stool equally threw in the towel of contest the vacant stool having not entitled to it and having not participated in the selection process and whose grandparents once again had initially benefited from the throne.
The Sheriff Bello has been parading the corridors of Alausa trying to lobby the Commissioner of Chieftaincy Affairs and the Permanent Secretary towards his confirmation and inauguration as the Oba of Onigbanko Kingdom.
“The youths in the community are anxiously waiting for the government to crown the most preferred candidate as the Oba of Igbanko Kingdom because he is qualified being a graduate of the University of Lagos State and a successful real estate magnate with several international exposures.
“We therefore reaffirm and state that by the resolution of all the kingmakers, the Baales and elders of the Molade and Orimogunje line of the royal family as the ‘Next in line’ ruling house to produce Onigbanko of Igbanko Kingdom nominates Prince Muritala Adekunle Shittu of the Molade branch.
“As it stands the matter as regards his ineligibility is already subject to litigation at the Badagry High Court in suit No; BD/2098GCMW/2016. Why the rush? Going ahead with any process of inauguration will amount to flagrant disobedience to court and might affect the subject matter of the above named suit.
“We therefore call on Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu to prevail on the commissioner for Chieftaincy and community Affairs to refrain immediately from carrying out any installation process or inaugurating Sheriff Bello as a Oba in the Igbanko Kingdom”.
