As the battle for the kinship of Ketu -Epe in Ikosi -Ejinrin Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, rages, the Agbon of Ketu- Epeland, Chief Akeem Oluwo has said that he is a royal blood from the Ateshimara lineage and that was why he was chosen as as Alaketu -Epe designate.
Chief Oluwo stated this to set record straight delving into historical lineages of the traditional stool of Ketu-Epe land, stated that he was installed as Agbon of Ketu-Epe land in 2006 by Late Oba Adegboyega Adefowora. He explained that the royal battle started after demise of Late Oba Adegboyega Adefowora who reigned in the town for 18 years.
He dismissed the claim of Prince Babajide Adekoya Adefowora that it is only the Adefowora family that is entitled to the Alaketu Epe throne.
" On branch and the ruling houses, Osokeji Ateshinmara was the founder of Ketu Epe. He had one children called Adeniran. Adeniran had two wives and birthed four children.
"Three from the first wife who he married from ijasin.The children of the first wife were Efunderu, Adeona, and otuwunmi and the second wife married from ilese gave birth to one child named Lijero,a male child.
Otuwunmi was a woman who got married to two husbands
Her first husband was from Ejinrin while the second husband she married later was from Epe.
Otuwunmi gave birth to three male children for the first husband, namely; Efusu, Emusu and Ogunderu. and Rufai who happened to be the fourth child for the second husband.Rufai Alias Adefowora.
And in Otuwunmi lineage, Efusu was one that gave birth to my grand father which was dehinde, the first son from Efusu. So those saying it is only one ruling House that is entitled to Alaketu -Epe throne are not saying the truth.
"The untimely death of Adeyemi Adefowora who was killed in 1999, fifteen days to his coronation led to the other lineages compensating the Adefowora again with the kingship and this time around, the son of the deceased junior brother, Adegboyega Adefowora was installed again despite that Sarafa sonubi was initially picked.
"Adegboyega Adefowora reigned for eighteen years and in 2015, this same Babajide came all way from UK , rallied support, went to the media, accused his brother king of being an impostor,high-handedness, breaking of traditional rules, being kingpin of land grabbers, and he called for his dethronement .He even solicited my support on this, but I refused his entreaties and remained a staunch supporter and loyalist of late Adegboyega Adefowora.
" After the death of Adegboyega, their family was unconcerned about the burial,the town did the normal rites. They didn't know how the late monarch was buried. I was the one that gave #700,000 used for the burial rites, though I was later reimbursed by the family.
"Ketu Epe has no Palace building, every king had used own family house as Palace. Oba Kareem reigned in my grandfather house, he rebuilt it. On the issue that I rushed to build a Palace, I am not the one building it. It was the community. It was even called a temporary Palace built with joint efforts and contributions of all. I am the sole candidate of the Osokeji Atesimara. The declaration was made in the family name which was a compound. Court affirmed that Adeniran had four children"
Explaining further, Oluwo said"After the event that involved all the town leading to my selection, Jide's mother and those concerned were at the town hall for the meeting. They too covered it.
"The oracle picked me. The Osugbos assented to it. The Oluwo,Apena were on ground. Eleku, Akanlowo and Araba as well.
"Two years ago ,all processes and procedures had been on going and I was about to get staff of office that injunction came and the processes stalled.
On Babajide's visit to Ooni, "he was just a visitor. The visit was baseless".
Akeem Oluwo while responding to the allegations of being a land grabber who has been bringing thugs causing mayhem in the town ,said" They are just calling themselves bad names. Babajide's supporters are the one behind all these. They did it during the reign of Late Adegboyega. They locked up my brother at Elemoro. I am just a land administrator for the family and never a land grabber. I am a peace loving person. Who do I reign over if I should be disturbing the peace of my town, security and safety of the people? They are just saying what they like on the social media".
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