The duo of Akiogun and Abisogun Ruling Houses, two of the ruling houses in Iruland in Lagos, have declared support for Prince Aremo Adesegun Oniru as the next Oniru of Iruland.
This is coming on the heels of the claim by the opponent of Adesegun Oniru for the stool, Mr. Hakeem Ajasa that he is from Abisogun family and that he had been endorsed for the coveted stool by the family.
It will be recalled that the Akiogun Ruling House in Iruland, where Prince Adesegun Oniru came from, had earlier endorsed him as their candidate for the stool.
In declaring their support for Prince Adesegun Oniru for the stool, members of Abisogun Ruling House spoke through the Odofin of Iruland, Chief Saliu Abisogun during a recent press conference.
Speaking under the topic; “On the Oniru Stool: The Need for Further Development Of Iruland,” Chief Abisogun revealed that the Oniru Stool came to statutory recognition in 1994 after a history of more than 200 years.
The Chief added that the late Oba Abiodun Oniru spent 25 years on the throne and that his reign brought about unprecedented development, government recognition and presence with lots of personal prosperity to both the indigenes and foreigners in Iruland.
“It is in connection with this that we, the Chiefs and Baales of Iruland have resolved to back the nomination of Aremo Adesegun Oniru as the next Oniru of Iruland.
‘We cannot afford, at this stage of our development to allow some elements, who have no contribution to the development of Iruland, to take over the leadership of the city and reduce it to the vassal of some foreign interests.
“We cannot afford stifling of our development in the hands of individuals, who have no knowledge of how we get here,” he said.
Abisogun stated that it was with the “distinguished cooperation of Aremo Adesegun Oniru that we recorded tremendous achievements in Ireland under our deceased monarch.”
The family emphasised that Aremo Adesegun Oniru assisted in ensuring unprecedented infrastructural development in Ireland.
According to them; “he brought the whole family of Oniru together as a united force in the absence of which it would have been near impossible to make the landmark progress we have witnessed in recent times.
“The Oniru family within the last 75 years, has transformed our collective existence to the pride of all indigenes. The best favour we can do ourselves to ensure continuity of this spate of progress and development.’
Chief Abisogun stressed that the fact that the late Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abiodun Oniru was the father of Aremo Adesegun Oniru was not a sound argument to prevent the ascension of Adesegun.
He explained that Aremo Adesegun Oniru could legitimately succeed his father if the “development of our land is of any meaning to all.”
“It is instructive to note that this is not an unusual practise as the neighbouring Kingdom of Ikateland wisely did the same in no fat a distance. In addition, the Abisogun Ruling House laying claim currently exclusively occupies the Ilase Royal seat, which is equally part of the Oniru Empire.”
Chief Saliu Abisogun pointed out that the “charade of some individuals carried out some few days ago in the name of nomination of Oniru of Ireland of someone, who has no connection with our historical progress is nothing, but an unnecessary provocation, which is better ignored to pave way for our continued harmony.
“We, the principal members of Oniru family have met together with all relevant Baales in Ireland and have resolved to back the aspiration of Aremo Adesegun Abiodun Oniru as the next Oniru of Ireland.
They then urged all the sons and daughters of Iruland to sheath their swords and join hands with Aremo Adesegun Oniru towards “further development of our kingdom.”
“The statutory process for nomination has not been ignited in line with the established legal procedure. Hence members of the public should ignroe any charade being peddled as nomination for the stool. The obaship of Iruland cannot be a subject of campaign as videoed recently. It is a sacred institution that commands the highest respect and must not be subject to any ridicule,” he said.