Some royal families in Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, have rejected the nomination of 33-year-old Temitope Majekodunmi as the king-designate for the vacant stool of Olu of Ikeja.

Mr Majekdunmi, who is of Oshoja Ruling House, was a youth representative on the now-defunct Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.

On Friday, the royal family unanimously agreed that 33-year-old Mr Majekodunmi will occupy the throne as the Olu of Ikeja eight years after Oba Rauf Adeniyi Aremu Matemi passed away.

But speaking at a news briefing shortly after the announcement, leaders of some of the royal families and kingmakers in the kingdom, said that Tajudeen Muritala, who had earlier been unveiled as the king-elect, remained the sole candidate for the throne.

The Oluwo of Ikeja, Chief Adeniyi Illo, and Prince Jamiu Folami, who spoke on behalf of others, accused politicians of blocking the progress of the area by sabotaging their efforts at installing the king-elect.

They said that the issues should not have degenerated to what it is at present, with the different royal families antagonising one another if politicians had not infiltrated the families.

Mr Folami, who denied the claim that Mr Muritala was not a member of any of the royal families, provided an oral historical record that linked him to Iyade and Oshoja families.

The kingmakers called on the state government to ensure that the will of the indigenes of Ikeja Kingdom prevailed, by giving approval to the installation of Prince Muritala as the new king.

Specifically, the Oluwo of Ikeja land raised the alarm that his life was in danger owing to his stance on the issue. 

(NAN)