Ajah residents in Lagos State have taken to the streets in protest. Their grievance? Alleged plans to impose a traditional ruler on the community.
On Thursday, hundreds of protesters, led by the General Secretary of the Ajah Community, Mr. Kazeem Odunlami, stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly in Ikeja.
They came with a clear message: “We reject the imposition of the Olumegbon family as king.”
Placards carried by the crowd bore messages like, “Allow the court to decide!” and “Ajah Community seeks peace.”
Odunlami addressed lawmakers, urging them to intervene and stop the state government from approving what he called a “dangerous move.”
He warned that forcing a ruler on the community could lead to chaos.
“We want peace in Ajah,” Odunlami said. “The government must respect our customs and traditions.”
According to Odunlami, the title of Olumegbon of Lagos has no connection with rulership in Ajah.
“The only recognized leader in Ajah is the Baale,” he explained.
The Baale of Ajah, Chief Adewale Adeleke, is the rightful person to be upgraded to king, Odunlami insisted.
He emphasized that Ajah’s history does not support the Olumegbon family ruling the community.
“For over 300 years, our Baale has been the head of Ajah,” he said. “This is our culture.”
Odunlami also revealed that a court order currently prevents the Olumegbon family from assuming leadership.
“There is an interlocutory order in place,” he stated. “The government must maintain the status quo until the case is resolved.”
He appealed to the assembly to respect the court’s decision.
“The people of Ajah will never accept the Olumegbon family as our ruler,” Odunlami declared. “It will only bring destruction.”
“We Will Present Your Case,” Assembly Assures Protesters
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, responded to the protesters.
He urged them to remain calm and assured them that their concerns would be addressed.
Obasa, represented by lawmaker Desmond Elliott, promised that the issue would be discussed during the next plenary session.
“We are happy you came peacefully,” Elliott said. “Your request has been noted.”
He added that the protesters would be contacted once a decision is reached.
Another member of the assembly, Solomon Bonu from Badagry Constituency, also weighed in.
He assured the crowd that the matter would not be ignored.
“This issue will not be swept under the carpet,” Bonu promised.
The Roots of the Dispute
The conflict over who should rule Ajah is not new.
At the heart of the matter is a struggle between tradition and government influence.
Ajah’s residents argue that their customs have always placed rulership in the hands of the Baale.
The Olumegbon family, however, is seeking recognition as the traditional rulers of the area.
This has led to tensions and legal battles.
The community insists that the state government should allow the courts to make the final decision.
They fear that any move to impose a ruler could spark unrest.
“Ajah wants peace,” Odunlami repeated during the protest. “We are calling on the government to do the right thing.”
