The above named body is a cross section of some elites within the Oloto family and cuts across the three Ruling Houses of the Oloto Royal family.
Introduction : the stool of the Oloto of Otto in Lagos Mainland LGA was declared vacant for the next Ruling house to present a candidate via a public notice issued by the Lagos Mainland LGA in August 2016 on heels of the mandatory three months mourning period of the last Oba who died on 18th of May 2016
Legal Foundations : The stool of the Oloto of Otto in Lagos Mainland LGA of Lagos state Nigeria is governed by the laws of Lagos state via a registered Family Declaration dated 30th December 1988 approved 1st March 1989 and duly registered on 10th March 1989 and well covered by the Lagos state Gazette .The Chieftaincy was duly restored back and resuscitated as a Class A Oba upon acceptance of the report of the Standing Tribunal of Inquiry into Chieftaincy matters by the Lagos state government in 1995. These two legal instruments are the guide of their lordships in the cases before the court among the aspiring Princes.
The Next Ruling House : the LGA commencing the process had opened then with Baalo Ruling house called and confirmed as appropriate and next Ruling house to fill the vacant Oloto of Otto stool by the Divisional Chieftaincy Committee ( Apapa/Surulere/ Lagos Mainland LGA )headed by the Ojora of Ijora and Ijoraland , HRM Fatai Aremu Aromire.
The Politics of the Ruling houses. Oloto family declaration had since 1989 had three Ruling Houses namely OLUPEJOBI, BAALO and ERUFA.
Pawu the progenitor of the Oloto family became the Ruler of the Olofin empire after the demise of Olofin Ogunfunminire in 1592. He had only two survivors Akinjufe and Ilubi which should have ordinarily made the Oloto family to have TWO Ruling Houses. ILUBI begat Baalo while Akinjufe begat offsprings that ended as OLUPEJOBI and ERUFA. The Lagos state government went on and created an extra third Ruling house for OLUPEJOBI to enable the immediate last Oba Ganiyu Odesanya in 1989 to ascend the throne of the Oloto of Otto after Oba Jaiyesimi Ogundimu from ERUFA Ruling house had died in 1976.. Baalo Ruling house consist of Five or Six houses depending on whether the courts rule to accept Manuowonu as a branch along with , Erufa, Akinyemi, Magbamoko, Odubi and Fagbayi.. it is case for their lordships to determine.
Preambles to this Publication.
While the aspiring Princes are busy contesting the nomination or perceived selection of their adversaries in the various and hallowed chambers of justice- the courts of the land , a strange development filtered in that the Lagos state government was about to install one Mr Bashiru Oloto without recourse to the laws guiding the throne of the Oloto of Otto stool or the Government white paper of the standing tribunal on chieftaincy matters. The rumours have become so persistent that various positions of the state of the legal challenge had been written to the state government by the various counsels to the aspiring Princes who are increasingly mindful of the boasts and such illegal acts. There were press conferences and peaceful protests to reiterate that the Baalo Ruling house is not ready relinquish it's turn to any one or any other ruling house for that matter.The said Mr Bashiru Oloto is believed to be a domestic assistant to a serving Politician who is closely related to a prominent member of the Ruling party . This connection has fuelled suggestions that the said Bashiru Oloto is set to be imposed on the Oloto family like in a supposedly planned disregard of the extant laws guiding the process and stool of the Oba Oloto of Otto.The Standing Tribunal report explicitly puts Baalo Ruling house as the one entitled to produce the next Oba . Bashiru Oloto is not even related to the Baalo Ruling house and currently claims the Olupejobi Ruling house by virtue of his connection to the last Oba Ganiyu Odesanya.
Manoeuvres and Economics: The Oloto family is the major land owner in Lagos state.it makes the battle of who becomes the Oloto to be fiercely fought. Allegations have been rife in the media that an unnamed politician representing Lagos and other economic interests along with a top state legislator had lately made some real estate acquisitions in choice locations on the Mainland and are desirous of some maximisation thereby seeking a pliable puppet to be on the Oloto of Otto throne. We are really concerned and constrained by the political weight of these personalities and interests . it is our wish that you will use your esteemed office to appeal and prevail upon them to prevent them from disrupting our family affairs and soil the legal order of rotation. Your Excellency, is well aware of the oaths sworn to as a holder of a public office in the federal republic.. We believe that as the Executive Governor of this important state that sets the pace you will be failing in your sacred oaths if you succumb to such pressures and allow these wicked machinations and seeming disrespectful stance to see the light of the day.It would be the utmost disregard for our laws and utterly disrespectful of our much valued traditional institutions and customs. The Oloto family is however trying it's bit to manage the crisis and achieve resolutions if necessary by the courts of and last resorts.
The Evolution of the Court cases and emergent issues: The selection process vests selection of the Oba Oloto of Otto in an overall head of the family along with the heads of the three Ruling Houses. These duly accepted and previously known heads of the Ruling houses picked Prince Babatunde Adedapo Shittu .On the other part the present chiefs had then averred that they are the automatic heads by virtue of their chieftaincy titles and therefore the kingmakers. They picked Murisiku Fasinro . The substantive heads of the three Ruling Houses however took to the courts to stop the state government from the installation of Murisiku Fasinro based on the standing of the late H.A.B Fasinro who was elected by the chiefs as head. The case is presently at the Court of Appeal. Non resolution of the case gave room for others to spring up .
One other vital issue before the courts is whether Manuowonu is a branch of the Baalo Ruling House. This case has now emerged as the focal point and is slated for trial before Justice Ashade of the Lagos high court. It is our humble view to call on your excellency to either give effect to the laws of our state or file through the state counsel for acceleration trial to resolve the matter rather than allow the dubious and tricky packaging going on from the LMLG, business interests and alleged persons to come to pass.
The leadership of the Oloto family led by Alhaja Sikirat Oba who remains the oldest member of the Oloto family at over a hundred years had also in a viral video appealed to a Senator to tread softly and asserted that the said Bashiru Oloto does not have a Royal blood to be an Oloto of Otto .She and other representatives of the Baalo Ruling house are also in a Lagos high court against the said Bashiru Oloto to nip the matter in the bud.
In conclusion we continue to thank the State Governor for his forthrightness and patience on the Oloto family issues. The state government owe it a duty to prevent a breakdown of law and order by not succumbing to any unjust imposition. the cases in court should be allowed to run their course if a peaceful settlement cannot be found.on our own part we will continue to be law abiding and work and pray for peace to reign in the family.
Thanks and God bless
Signed
Mr Bunmi Akinyemi.....(President)
Dr Akinlade Babafemi...(Secretary)