By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Silence from government authorities has heightened tension and uncertainty among residents of Oworonshoki in Kosofe Local Government Area following the recent installation of a new monarch for the newly designated Oko Baba Agba Kingdom.
The controversy followed the presentation of an appointment letter and staff of office to His Royal Highness, Oba Kabiru Adesegun Saliu, as the monarch of Oko Baba Agba. The development has raised concerns among residents, particularly because the area is traditionally associated with the domain of the existing Oloworo of Oworonshoki, His Royal Highness, Oba Babatunde Bashiru Saliu, Elebo II.
At the centre of the growing concern is the absence of clear information on the geographical boundaries and jurisdiction of the newly recognised kingdom. Residents and community stakeholders fear that without an official clarification, competing claims over traditional authority could create unnecessary tension and potentially trigger conflict.
Government Silence Raises Questions
Despite growing calls for clarification, relevant government authorities have yet to publicly explain the territorial limits or administrative implications of the new traditional arrangement.
Lagos State Government: The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development has not publicly released a detailed boundary description or official statement explaining how the new kingdom relates to the existing Oworonshoki traditional domain.
Kosofe Local Government: The council chairman, Barr. Moyosore Adedoyin Ogunlewe, who was represented at the installation by Vice Chairman Oluwole Sosanya, has also not publicly addressed the concerns surrounding the jurisdiction of the newly installed monarch.
Legislative Oversight: Hon. Sanni Ganiyu Babatunde, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government Administration, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, has similarly not issued a public clarification on the matter.
Residents Demand Clear Boundaries
Community stakeholders are now calling on the Lagos State Government to provide an unambiguous explanation of the boundaries of Oko Baba Agba and its relationship with the existing Oworonshoki Kingdom.
They argue that clarity is necessary not only for administrative purposes but also to prevent competing traditional authorities and their supporters from laying conflicting claims over communities, institutions and residents.
For many residents, the issue is no longer simply about the installation of a new monarch. It is about where one traditional jurisdiction ends and another begins.
With official silence persisting, concerns are growing that an issue that could be resolved through a clear government pronouncement may instead become a source of avoidable traditional and communal tension in Kosofe.