For the Onikoyi ruling house, an upgraded chiefdom to king in Eti-Osa Local Government, things are no longer at ease. What is putting asunder, the once upon a time, united family and peaceful, is their heritage; the Onikoyi stool, the sanctity of which their fore-fathers have preserved over the years and have rotated its occupation among family members from its two notable branches; Muti and Dosunmu families.
The present crisis rocking the family was the crowning Prince Ibikunle Fafunwa, a direct son of the immediate past Onikoyi, Oba Oba Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa-Onikoyi, who joined his ancestors in 20….., as the new Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Imoba land, a move which, according to the Dosunmu branch of the Onikoyi family, was contrary to the choice and rotational structure between the two ruling houses.
The installation has been met with resistance from nine out of ten branches of the family, who claim that the process violates the chieftaincy declaration guiding the rotational kingship.
The Onikoyi royal family has a complex history, with two ruling houses: Muti and Dosunmu. A 2006 chieftaincy declaration outlines a rotational arrangement among ten royal families to produce monarchs in a specific order. The declaration was signed by then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who brokered a peace deal to resolve conflicts over rulership.²
The installation of Prince Ibikunle Fafunwa has been disputed due to allegations that it contravenes the rotational agreement. The Dosunmu Onikoyi Royal Family claims that it’s their turn to produce the next Oba, citing historical and legal backing, including a Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the two ruling houses (Muti and Dosunmu). The family argues that the 2006 Declaration was surreptitiously procured and is defective.
Key Issues
– Rotational Arrangement: The chieftaincy declaration outlines a specific order of rotation among the ten royal families. King Ibikunle Fafunwa’s installation appears to deviate from this arrangement.
– Dispute Over Ruling Houses: The Dosunmu Onikoyi Royal Family asserts that it’s their turn to produce the next Oba, while the Muti family, to which King Ibikunle Fafunwa belongs, claims legitimacy.
– Allegations of Unilateral Decision-Making: The nine aggrieved branches of the family accuse the state government of using state machinery to force through King Ibikunle Fafunwa’s installation.
The aggrieved families have taken to peaceful protests and filed a court case to compel the government to recognize their selected candidate, Abdul Omogbolahan Sulaimon Onikoyi.
– Government Response: The Lagos State Government claims to have followed due process in King Ibikunle Fafunwa’s installation, while calling for peace among the parties involved.
The controversy surrounding Oba Ibikunle Fafunwa’s installation highlights the complexities of traditional succession disputes in Lagos. The outcome will depend on the resolution of the court case and the state government’s stance on the matter.
