A royal succession crisis has gripped the Onikoyi royal family of Ikoyi in Lagos State, following the installation of Prince Kunle Fafunwa, son of the late monarch, as the new Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land.

At a press conference, nine of the ten ruling branches of the royal family publicly rejected the installation, describing it as a breach of the rotational system established in the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006 and a violation of the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Lagos State.

The family said Prince Abdul Omogbolahan Sulaimon Onikoyi of the Ojulari branch was unanimously selected as the Oba-elect on December 9, 2023, in line with the rotational succession process outlined in the gazetted chieftaincy declaration.

Speaking at the briefing, Prince Omogbolahan said: “There were just four people at the so-called installation yesterday. That tells you everything. We will not be silenced. We will protest lawfully until the right thing is done.”

However, they said there was no official response. The Olori Ebi of the Ojulari branch, Alhaji Akinyemi Esinlokun, also called on the state government to respect the established procedures.

Responding in a chat with Daily Trust, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said the government followed due process in the installation of the monarch.

He said, “It is true there were about five contenders from the same family. Whatever the government did, it followed due process. It is not unusual In this kind of situation to find people raising voices of disagreement.”

The state government called on the parties to embrace peace. “Our own duty is to go there, give them the staff of office based on the recommendation they brought, and the government followed due process.” (Daily Trust)