By Monsuru Olowoopejo

THIRTEEN years after the demise of their monarch, tension is brewing among residents of Ibasa/Ijegun Egba riverside community in Lagos State over who becomes the next traditional ruler of the town.

Vanguard gathered that the late monarch of the over 400-year-old community, Oba Rasaki Omoboye, died in 2003; and since then, the battle to succeed him has been raging.

Since the death of the previous monarch, the community has been administered by a regent, Chief Yisa Adagun, who also doubles as the head of the kingmakers in the town.

Due to the delay, Vanguard learned that Babatunde Olarinde, a resident of the town, allegedly started parading himself as the monarch-elect for the town.

He also boasted that he was waiting for the state Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, to hand him his staff of office.

As the battle for the next monarch intensified, a new family leader, Rasaki Oladega, whom some residents alleged was not the authentic head of any family in the town, emerged.

In a bid to assert his claim, residents argued that Rasaki Oladega, allegedly stormed the community with hoodlums, to claim a portion of land in the town. The Chiefs in the community alleged that about five persons were killed in the community during the invasion.

Speaking to Vanguard, Adagun said the kingmakers of the community, made up of five chiefs, were yet to choose a king even as he alleged that Oladega does not belong to any of the ruling families.

Adagun said: “Any individual who proclaims himself king-elect outside the choice of our kingmakers is just a liar. No one should listen to him.”

Head of the Omoboye ruling family, Chief Musiliu Adeniji, alleged that Olarinde and Oladega were tenants “in our community and both of them are not entitled to the position they currently parade.”

He urged the state government to forestall attempts by some individuals to take advantage of this vacuum, saying “the kingmakers have not chosen the right person for the throne and we appeal to the state governor to wade in and help address the issue.”

Former Internal Auditor of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Apostle Alowonle Balogun told Vanguard that Rufai stormed the community with 40 hoodlums and disrupted the activities in the community.

Efforts to speak to Rufai proved abortive as he declined making any comment on the clash.

No one died during the clash-Police

Speaking to Vanguard, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Lagos State, Dolapo Badmos, debunked the claim that five persons died during the clash, saying “when the clash started, our officers from that axis moved in and normalcy returned.”