By -Olalekan Murisiku
Former Governor of Lagos State and All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was absent at Ayangbure Palace in Ikorodu where he aught to have been installed as the Baba Oba of Ikorodu Kingdom.
The failure of the APC National Leader to appear his conferment as Baba Oba of Ikorodu Kingdom to some resident may not be unconnected with a Court order issued yesterday by a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja that stopped the coronation ceremony to fill the vacant stool of Ayangbure, the traditional ruler of Ikorodu Kingdom.
Notable public places such as the entrance of Ikorodu Local government and the Ayangbure Palace had earlier been adorned with felicitations posters and banners of Asiwaju Tinubu on his conferment. A good numbers of his admirers were disapointed as they waited in vains to receive the ‘Governor Emeritus’ as fondly called by many people.
Although there was heavy presence of security operative at the Palace and some strategic points in the town, members of the Coronation committee gathered at the palace receiving high profile guests who were excpected to attend the grand finale of the coronation ceremony which had commenced on 2nd August 2015.
The pronouncement of Justice O.O Ogungbesan (yesterday) restrained Laogos State Governoe, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode or anyone acting under his authority from going ahead to crown the Odofin of Ikorodu, Chief Kabir Adewale Shotobi as the new Ayangbure of Ikorodu.
The Judge also stopped Shotobi from either ‘presenting himself for coronation or parading himself as the Ayangbure of Ikorodu Kingdom or exerciseing any Ayangbure royal function’ pending the determination of suit filled by a member of the Lambo branch of the Lasunwon Chieftaincy family of Ikorodu Kingdom, Mr Odupitan Eniola.
Justice Ogungbesan who adjourned the montion on notice till 26th August, 2015 said the court order was ‘in the interest of justice’.
Meanwhile, some inhabitants of Ikorodu are wandering over the development said that the former Odofin of Ikorodu, Chief Kabir Adewale Shotobi, a member of the Adegorushen branch of the Lasuwon Chieftaincy family of Ikorodu has become the new Oba, Ayangbure of Ikorodu having reicieved the staff of office from the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola publicly on Tuesday 26th May, 2015.
They argued that ‘Oba’ Kabir Adewale Shotobi had spent the stautory at ‘Ipebi’ (traditional learning centre meant for seclusion and cleansing) for any new Oba.
The Ayangbure stool became vacant on 1st August, 2014 following the demise of paramount ruler of Ikorodu division and the Permanent Vice Chairman of Lagos State Council of Obas, Oba Salaudeen Afolabi Oyeusi.