..Calls on Sanwo-Olu to intervene
The royal family of Okuoye in Ise Kingdom, Lekki LCDA Ibeju Lekki has reaffirmed that Prince Ibrahim Adebowale is the only authentic Oba-elect of Ise Land.
According to the statement signed by Chief Ligali Alidu, head of Okuoye Ruling house, the process of selecting the new Oba was duly followed in line with Yoruba customs and the approved Chieftaincy Declaration.
The statement said “After the ruling house submitted the names of contestants, the Kingmakers screened all 35 aspirants, consulted the Ifa oracle, and voted based on merit, educational qualifications, and character.
“At the conclusion of this process, the Kingmakers chose Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu as the rightful candidate. Their decision was documented and transmitted to the Local Council for onward submission to the Lagos State Governor.”
The family emphasized that Barr Babatunde Lana , who ranked 25th among the contestants, was never selected by the Kingmakers and had no endorsement from the King makers. His claim of being chosen was described as “a blatant distortion of the truth,” since the family’s role is limited to only submitting the names of applicants to the position, while the Kingmakers alone have the authority to select the Oba-elect by voting according to the Chieftaincy declaration.
In addition, the family said the action of the Local Government Chairman is causing resentment in the community, warning that the government should hold the council chairman responsible for any breakdown of law and order.
Calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene, the family urged the state government to ensure that due process is respected and the integrity of the throne preserved.
“The throne of Onise of Ise is sacred and cannot be hijacked by vaulting ambition or deceit,” the family stated in the statement.
“The rightful Oba-elect, chosen through tradition and due process, is Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu. The community stands united in rejecting any charade and calls on the state government to uphold justice, tradition, and peace.”
Also speaking on the development, the Head/Chairman of the kingmakers, Ojon Of Ise Land, High Chief Aliu Tiamiyu Akanni dismissed the claim by Babatunde to the Onise stool as “fake, untrue and without any legal or traditional foundation.”
Tiamiyu insisted that the Kingmakers had concluded their assignment in strict compliance with the Lagos State Chieftaincy Declaration and had unequivocally selected Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu as the Oba-elect.
“Our Oba-elect is Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu. The Kingmakers carried out the selection process, voted and forwarded their choice to the Local Government. We stand firmly by that decision,” he said.
According to him, the succession process commenced at the instance of the Lekki Local Council Development Area following the demise of the late Onise of Ise.
“The Local Government was the authority that directed that the process should commence after the demise of the former Oba by issuing a public notice on 13th April 2026. In compliance with that directive, the ruling family submitted the names of all eligible applicants to the Kingmakers. The Kingmakers thereafter carried out their constitutional responsibility, considered all the candidates, voted and unanimously chose Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu. Their report was duly forwarded to the Local Government for onward transmission to the Lagos State Government as stipulated by the Chieftaincy Declaration,” he explained.
Tiamiyu expressed concern over what he described as the continued delay in forwarding the report to the state government, warning that such action was capable of undermining the integrity of the traditional institution and creating unnecessary tension within the community.
“The Local Government should immediately transmit the report of the Kingmakers without any further delay. It has no discretion to substitute the decision of the Kingmakers or frustrate a process that has been validly concluded in accordance with the law and established custom,” he stated.
The Kingmakers further appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene urgently by directing the Chairman of Lekki LCDA to transmit the Kingmakers’ report containing the nomination of Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu for the Governor’s consideration.
He stressed that the stool of the Onise of Ise occupies a strategic place in the traditional institution of Lagos State, adding that the Onise serves as the Vice Chairman of the Ibeju-Lekki Traditional Council.
“This is not an ordinary traditional stool. It is therefore imperative that the authorities treat the matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserves by ensuring that the lawful process is concluded without further delay,” the Kingmakers added.