In the ongoing efforts to find a lasting and peaceful resolution to the lingering leadership crisis in Eko-Epe Kingdom, a recent piece written by an otherwise respected friend has unfortunately stirred more harm than harmony. Titled “The Ikuforiji of Eko-Epe Kingdom”, the write-up, directed at the Ikuforiji family, has raised concerns and misrepresented facts in a way that demands clarity.
The writer rightly acknowledged that it is only Allah who appoints leadership and authority as He pleases. On that basis, I believe it is prudent for all of us to exercise patience and allow the process to run its full course—only then can we truly accept the person whom destiny and divine will have chosen.
However, the same writer went further to accuse Chief Olajide Ikuforiji, the duly recognized Olu-Epe elect, of disrespecting constituted authority. In doing so, he failed to acknowledge historical precedence: a similar Balogun–Olu-Epe dispute occurred during the reign of the late Oba M.D. Kassim and Balogun Agbaje. Despite the tensions, there were no records of suspension, removal, or termination of roles—dignity and due process were respected.
It is also misleading for the writer to claim that no particular family owns a chieftaincy title. Such a statement, especially from someone who calls himself a “son of the soil,” is both mischievous and irresponsible. In our tradition, chieftaincy titles are not merely individual honors—they represent entire families, quarters, and lineages. Once a title is conferred, it becomes a legacy of the bearer’s family and community.
It is important to remind the public that Chief Olajide Ikuforiji was already on the official chieftaincy roll prior to the installation of the late Olu-Epe, whose own emergence was marked by procedural irregularities similar to what we are witnessing today.
On the issue of the alleged removal of Chief Ikuforiji, I must address the unfounded claim involving Alhaji Ikujenya, the respected head of the Ikuforiji family. Reports confirm that Alhaji Ikujenya, due to his poor eyesight, was misled into signing a document that was read to him as a letter simply affirming the role of the six houses in Bado Oke. This was a gross manipulation of trust and should never have happened in a community that values its elders.
I now challenge the writer or any concerned party to present a valid court judgment in Nigeria where Chief Iskilu Olajide Ikuforiji was declared to have lost any legal battle regarding this matter. False claims, distortions, and propaganda must not be the foundation on which we build our community’s future.
My deep involvement in this matter is driven by two core convictions:
1. As a concerned youth of Eko-Epe Kingdom, I refuse to remain silent in the face of injustice and irregularities that threaten the future of our traditional institutions.
2. Whoever eventually ascends the throne of Olu-Epe must understand that leadership is not a license for tyranny. The throne must not become a tool for silencing or removing subjects at will.
Let us stand together for truth, transparency, and justice. Eko-Epe deserves nothing less.
Hon. Oniga Kazeem
Epe, Lagos State
