MAJOR TROUBLE LOOMS IN IRULAND. AS SIDES THROW BARBS AT EACH OTHER & HAVE GONE TO THEIR TRENCHES READY FOR WAR. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN NOW OVER THE SLIGHTEST PROVOCATION.

Oba Abdul-Wasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, Oniru of Iruland

Prince Adesegun Abiodun-Oniru

Prince Hakeem Ajasa

What was supposed to have brought peace to Iruland with the coronation of an outsider, by this we mean someone who wasn't in the race for the stool and crown with the 2 chief protagonists in the 1st place, in the persons of Prince Hakeem Ajasa & Prince Adesegun Abiodun-Oniru, the Aremo to the late last king, who were both bent on taking the battle to each other no matter what and give it all that it deserves, has instead, raised more questions rather than the much expected straight forward answers. The peace that was envisaged from that action taken has not yet occurred.

For those who might not have known, 'Oba Abdul-Wasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II' is actually no usurper like some may have wanted to paint, but a bonafide son of the Oniru royal family. The new Oniru's mother is an actual Oniru from the Abisogun clan of the Oniru Royal Family, who went to marry from the family of her cousins, the Ojora Royal Family. From what we even found out, the King is a Prince of the Ojora Royal Family too, him being the last son (lastborn) of the late former king of that domain, meaning the last Ojora before the one there presently. And guess what? Both the Oniru Royal Family & Ojora Royal Family are part or members of the Idejo (white cap chiefs) of Eko, so both can even run for the Oba of Lagos crown too whenever the need for such arises. 

The underlying & fundamental issues that were there all the while, but that were kept hidden, have now come to the surface (fore) and causing major issues. Reconciliation of the highest kind is needed and very fast too at that, to solve what is raging now and for that to work at all, [major concession] is needed on all sides and that's where the issue lies.

Would the sides all battle ready to claim their piece of the spoil, be magnanimous enough to concede certain things for the sake of peace?

So okay let's treat some of the things that have come up. It is so obvious that all the other members of the royal family are on one side together against the Abioduns. For those who might not be conversant with who the Abioduns are, they are the family of the immediate last king of the domain-'Oba Idowu Abiodun-Oniru', a good man from all counts and that of the royal father before him, 'Oba Yesufu Abiodun-Oniru', who is also the immediate father of the late last king, Oba Idowu Abiodun-Oniru. The Oniru that is added to their name was adopted by them, it doesn't mean they are more Oniru than the others, as it's actually the general/extended family name for everyone, them inclusive. So Hakeem Ajasa could also have been, Prince Hakeem Ajasa-Oniru if he had so wanted, just like others too could have added it to their other names. There are 3 divisions in the general Oniru Royal Family.

Apart from the accusations or should we say allegations of gross arrogance raised against the Abiodun-Onirus, where the other members of the vast Oniru Royal Family felt/feels that they were all about themselves alone and thought all other members of the extended family members were nobodies and miscreants, who should be grateful to them for all what their fathers achieved and make happen for their domain.

The other issue, which is also of major concern at that, is that the Abiodun-Onirus over the years are said to have actually systematically sold all the prime lands that belongs to the general Oniru Royal family in Iruland. Not only were they accused of selling all such prime lands, they are also accused of keeping the returns (money) accrued from such sales to themselves alone. Like they are just the only persons in the vast family, that makes up the general Oniru Royal Family alone.

The anger of the others is that what should have been for all, has been cornered by just a macrocosm. And then also again, the investments via partnership that should also belong to all- Oniru Royal Family as a whole, are being run by just a few and the returns from such, kept only by that few too. One of such investments is the massive school 'British International School' in Oniru estate.

For those who might not actually know, Iruland is made up of the whole of Victoria Island and more and also the whole of the Eko Atlantic City, which is actually about the exact same size as Victoria Island itself. The word city should have even passed the message across. Iruland actually starts from CMS and extends to where the Elegushi is now, meaning that even the Elegushi was under the authority of the Oniru then.

Most of their land was acquired then by the Federal Government (Military Government under Gowon) many years back then. The Grandfather of the Abiodun-Oniru clan then called Baba Oloye, meaning the 13th Oniru then 'Oba Yesufu Abiodun-Oniru' who ruled for 50 long years, actually took the Government to court then and actually won, they were then compensated we believe by the Gowon government or latter to the tune of £2million Pounds. While Oba Yesufu Abiodun-Oniru reigned as the Oniru for 50 long years, his son Oba Idowu Abiodun-Oniru who took over from him, reigned after him for 25 years, making a total of 75 long years for just one out of the 3 divisions.

Back to now though, from what we learnt, while Prince Demola Abiodun-Oniru, one of the very well known millionaire sons of the late last king was in charge of the money making Oniru Beach stretch, which on a normal week rakes in tens of millions of Naira, Prince Tijani Abiodun-Oniru, his immediate brother, the one who had an altercation with another Prince of the Oniru clan very recently, which led to fisticuffs, is the boss of a multi-million Naira valued real estate(s) located on the vast family land, cleaning out fantastically from what we heard. So by all intent and purpose, he is a multi-millionaire many times over, without any doubt. Their eldest sibling, the former Aremo, is an undoubted very big-boy by all standards, close friends of the many well-heeled and powerful. He is very well connected and apart from him being a former top Government official for so many years- Commissioner under the Babatunde Raji Fashola adminstration, the UK trained engineer, is a super wealthy and highly industrious businessman, who helped in very many ways to add great value to the family's wealth. He actually owns a massive property in the Oniru domain.

These 3 mentioned here, are only just a few of the super well to do, Abiodun-Oniru clan. And there are many others.

So all the while that their grandpa and later their dad were on the throne for 75 years in total, the others not having the required connection, the wherewithal, the resources to compete, just kept their peace in their limbo. It wasn't like some of the other extended family members didn't try to mount some form of resistance at one point, but it wasn't to any avail. It was one of such resistance way back that allowed for the 10 years interregnum between when the late Oba Yesufu Abiodun-Oniru passed on at a ripe old age of above 100 and when his son was officially coronated to take over from him.

So when the late last king Oba Idowu Abiodun-Oniru passed on last year, in 2019 to be more precise, it was the opportunity for the opposition members of the vast family to come together this time around, to form the much needed resistance against the continuation of the Abiodun-Oniru clan only on the throne of their fathers. While many had thought that the then Aremo, Prince Adesegun Abiodun-Oniru would just easily take over from his father, the extended family had other thoughts instead, even as Prince Adesegun was eminently qualified to take over, so they rallied aggressively and massively behind the opposition- 'Prince Hakeem Ajasa', who was believed to also be well connected too, just like his cousin. Apart from being a top aide for several years too to 2 very influencial members of the ruling party- the APC in the person's of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola & Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, he also seem to possess the necessary pedigree too, to ascend the throne, if he was considered for it.

So hence began the war late last year till early this year. It was a battle royale, a big jostling to say the least that we wrote about here, with many intrigues involved from both sides. Both sides did everything possible to get one over each other. Good money was spent to sway those they thought to have the powers to make things happen. Influence was peddled widely and more.

But alas, in a most surprising move, the powers that be decided against any of the 2 most prominent princes and instead, picked the then Prince Abdul-Wasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, who wasn't at all in the count before in the contest to become the 15th Oniru of Iruland. Everything about his choice was quick fire and to the point, he was announced surprisingly and then in just a few days after, he was crowned with much urgency and given the staff of office, in a move done and packaged to shut all mouth up and move forward.

While the choice shocked everyone to stupor, some have since welcomed it with joy and elation and some haven't at all and that's where the trouble is brewing from. From what we hear though not fully confirmed, it seems like 'Prince Hakeem Ajasa', the other major contestant to the stool has since accepted his fate and may have moved on and is already on the side of the newly installed King. Meaning like, if I can't get it, then let another neutral get it then. While it is thought to not be like so with the Abiodun-Onirus! From even what we found out, the then prince now king had given his backing already before to the candidacy of Prince Hakeem Ajasa and so it was a major shock to the system for him too, when Lawal was announced as the king designate!

Part of the issue that's raising the much dusts now is that, since a new Oniru has finally come on the throne, firstly, he wants to assert himself, assert his authority as king over his domain. He doesn't want to be seen as just a king by mouth only or even a stooge. He wants to also correct many of the perceived anomalies/injustices of the many years past, whereby only one tiny part of the extended family apparently brazenly appropriated everything-land, properties & money for themselves all alone, like there were no other family members available.

But the other part maybe is of the opinion that, if we have been magnanimous alone to have conceeded the crown and throne to you, so then for all other things, let status quo must be maintained. Meaning, the actions of the past must be left as it were (let sleeping dogs lie) and the future should then take care of itself. This is what is the underlying contention and the much maligned larger percentage of the extended family wants fairness and equity to reign and they want it now and are unwilling to back down after all these years! The palace on her own wants to know the state of things. They want to know what belongs to the family as a whole and the value of such, hence the need for proper enumeration and accountability.

Would this be possible?

Would the palace be allowed to ascertain things?

Who is afraid of accountability?

Do the property owners in Oniru favour scrutiny or not? If not then, what are they then afraid of ?

So who would be the first to concede? Who would back down and allow for peace?

We heard that after Prince Tijani Oniru was mobbed by the palace officials in retaliation for his attack 1st on one of the palace officials who were on the palace official errand, he and his brothers and very many of their supporters with Policemen in tow, had stormed the palace to protest the treatment meted out to TJ, a white cap chief in the domain and also to make their minds known to the king, who fortunately they didn't meet. It took the grace of God though for mayhem not to occur, as both sides were willing to declare war and were unwilling to back down. In the aftermath of the whole mess, both sides have been spending money via articles and counters to air their views and sides of things online and in the papers. It's obvious things are simmering and a wrong move by any side, can just escalate matters and before we know it, maybe bloodshed and damages to properties can occur.

The peace of Oniru Estate is on thin ice as it is right now!

Again what is this claim again that some people are Egun or from Togo and not actually members of the family? It seems that in war, everything can be used to fight, even outright lies.