Isolo Kingmakers in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area have called on the Lagos State government to give attention to the letter before it and with all seriousness, in respect of the selection of Saheed Ishola Aregbesola as the next Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, maintaining that the choice of Osolo-elect was in conformity with the Customary Law of Isolo kingdom contrary to any false narrative.
Speaking on behalf of the kingmakers, their head, Chief Ramon Inufele Musendiku, made the call at a press conference in Lagos, explaining the rationale behind the choice of Alhaji Saheed Ishola Aregbeshola as Osolo-elect.
Musendiku, who spoke alongside one of his colleagues, Chief Rasaq Onikoyi, who is the Afobaje Osuro, said Aregbesola, who is set to succeed the late Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabir Agbabiaka who passed on April 10, 2024, was chosen in conformity with the Customary Law of Isolo Kingdom by virtue of the fact that it is the turn of the Alagbeji Royal Family to produce the next Osolo.
He disclosed that there exists a rotation within the four branches of the Alagbeji Family, but quickly pointed out that it was the turn of the Alabe branch to produce a candidate, maintaining that the decision family was based on Isolo history.
“We, therefore, urge you to give our letter of the selection of Alhaj (Chief) Saheed Ishola Aregbesola as the next Oba of Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, with all seriousness it deserved, and disregard any false narration to the contrary. This is coming on the heel of preventing any breakdown of law and order, in the contest of the selection of Alhaji (Chief) Saheed Ishola Aregbesola, as the Oba Osolo of Isolo kingdom,” Chief Musendiku said.
Giving the background to the choice of the Osolo-elect, Musendiku recalled that in line with the Customary Law of Isolo Kingdom, he had directed the head of the Alagbeji Royal Family, through a letter, to select a candidate to fill the vacant stool of Osolo, saying that based on that, “the Head of the Alabeji Royal Family, Chief Taoridi Faronbi (Alado), in turn, directed the Alabe family, whose turn it is to produce the next king, to consult among themselves and select the qualified candidate to fill the vacant stool.
He said it was consequent upon this that the Alabe Family wrote a letter to the Alabeji Royal Family of their decision to choose Alhaji Aregbesola, as the chosen one to fill the vacant stool, adding that the kingmakers in unison and based on consultation then forwarded their own letter of selection of same person as the next Oba of Isolo Kingdom.
According to him, this is the same procedure adopted in the appointment of previous kings since 1975.
“This is the procedure we adopted when we wanted to choose the Late Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka, at the time of his endorsement as the Oba Osolo of Isolo. Before his selection, Chief Lasisi Solomon Dada was the head of the Adeola Olushi Olugbesa Royal Family, and he forward the name of Kabiru Agbabiaka as the sole candidate to fill the vacant stool, after wide consultation within the family. This has been the procedure adopted in the appointment of previous kings since 1975.
“In 1975, Chief Lawal Akowojo was the Head of the Family of Alabeji Royal Family. It was the name of Disu Faronbi that was put forth, and adopted by the Afobaje (kingmakers) in 1988. The same procedure was adopted when the Head of Okota Royal Family, Chief Surajudeen Agbabiaka selected Oba Rafiu Ayinde Goloba as the candidate, who filled the vacant stool of Oba Osolo of Isolo.
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