By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Prince Olushola Coker, a Principal member of the Iyade Royal Family, Ikeja Kingdom, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene in the crisis rocking the vacant obaship stool, saying Ikeja deserves a duly recognised traditional ruler without further delays.

Coker, however, refuted claims by a group of the family of parading himself as the Olori Ebi of the Iyade Royal family.

He made the disclaimer in a statement titled: “Clarification on false allegations against my personal and vacant obaship stool of Ikeja Kingdom,” made available to the media.

The clarification comes following a purported publication and press release allegedly sponsored by some subset of members of the Iyade Royal Family, including the report published in one of the National Newspapers, not Vanguard.

According to Coker, “My attention has been drawn to certain false, misleading, and malicious allegations being circulated in the public domain by some individuals within a sub-section of the IYADE Royal Family.

“These publications appear deliberately sponsored to tarnish my personality, integrity, recognition, and longstanding reputation within Ikeja Kingdom and the society at large.

“It has therefore become necessary to set the record straight and debunk these unfounded claims in the interest of truth, peace, and the dignity of the IYADE Royal Family.”

Position of Olori Ebi

“I wish to state categorically and without ambiguity that I have never at any time pronounced myself as the Olori Ebi of the IYADE Royal Family, Ikeja Kingdom, nor have I ever paraded or laid claim to such title or office.

“My contributions and involvement in family matters have always been driven by my responsibility as a principal member and senior son of the family whose primary concern remains the unity, peace, progress, and preservation of our ancestral heritage.

Placeholder Olori Ebi

“It is important to clarify that some sub-sections of the IYADE Royal Family picked Prince Musiliu Sunday Afariogun as a placeholder for the position of Olori Ebi of the IYADE Royal Family, Ikeja Kingdom.

“At no point was such an arrangement intended to create unnecessary conflict, division, or misrepresentation within the family structure.

“It is, therefore, improper and unacceptable for any individual or group to issue public statements or convene press briefings on sensitive family matters without adequate consultation with principal members and elders of the family.

“The general public is hereby advised to disregard the purported publication and press release allegedly sponsored by some subset of members of the IYADE Royal Family, including the report published in the national newspaper.

“The said publication does not represent the official position of the IYADE Royal Family and should be treated as a calculated attempt aimed at causing malicious damage to my personality and public image. The allegations contained therein are false, misleading, and entirely without merit.

Sends S.O.S to Sanwo-Olu

“I respectfully appeal to the Lagos State Government to urgently give necessary attention to the vacant Obaship stool of Ikeja Kingdom, which has remained vacant for over a decade.

“As the capital city of Lagos State, Ikeja deserves a duly recognised traditional ruler to preserve our rich cultural heritage, strengthen communal harmony, and support developmental progress within the kingdom.

“The prolonged vacancy of the stool has created a significant vacuum in traditional leadership and community representation.”

Coker, therefore, called for unity and internal resolution, saying, “I strongly advise against the continuous spread of unverified allegations, inflammatory remarks, and divisive statements capable of disrupting the peace and unity of the IYADE Royal Family.”