The Ajah Community of Lagos State has staged a peaceful protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly against alleged imposition of Olumegbon family as the new Ajah traditional ruler.

Leading hundreds of the protesters, the General Secretary of Ajah Community, Kazeem Odunlami, told the lawmakers at the assembly complex in Ikeja on Thursday that the community would not accept the alleged imposition.

Hundreds of protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Please allow the court to determine who is entitled to become the Oba of Ajah, “All the families of Ajah say no to superimposition of Olumegbon family as the ruler of Ajah Community” and “Ajah community seeks peace.’’

Mr Odunlami said the state assembly should prevail on the state government to refrain from approving traditional rulership that could degenerate into chaos and breakdown of law and order.

He urged the state government to upgrade Baale of Ajah Kingdom, Chief Adewale Adeleke, as the new king.

The general secretary said that, under the state’s customs and traditions, the chieftaincy title of Olumegbon of Lagos was not associated with the rulership of the Ajah community.

Mr Odunlami said that the only recognised chieftaincy in Ajah since the colonial days was the Baale (Olomodi) of Ajah, claiming that Olumegbon had no historical or judicial background to become the Oba of Ajah.

He said: “There is a subsisting interlocutory order of court against the Olumegbon family and for the government to maintain the status quo pending determination of a case in the high court. We appeal to the state government through the assembly to remain law-abiding by respecting the court order. The Ajah community and its people will never accept the rulership of Ajah by the Olumegbon family since the family has never ruled the community. For over 300 years, Baale of Ajah has been the one ruling the Ajah community, that is our culture and tradition. Approving the Olumegbon family as Oba of Ajah is nothing but a plan to bring destruction on the good people of Ajah.”

Addressing the protesters, Assembly, Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, urged them to remain calm, giving the assurance that their request would be discussed at the next plenary.

Mr Obasa, represented by Desmond Elliott, (Surulere I Constituency), said that the matter would be resolved amicably.

He said, “We have heard you and we are happy that you staged a peaceful protest to the assembly. We have acknowledged your request and we will present it during the plenary. I am sure that you will be contacted.’’

Also, a member of the assembly, Solomon Bonu (Badagry I Constituency), said the issue would not be swept under the carpet.

(NAN)