Stolen staff: Lagos Ruling house Speaks On desecration of Oba Akiolu’s palace

Adefioye Iyunade

  Following the invasion of the  palace of  the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu on October 21 by rampaging youths, who carted away the royal staff of authority, the Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos State has called for the cleansing of the palace.

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The palace and the monarch were attacked amid the mayhem that broke out following the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos by soldiers on the evening of October 20.

In a statement on Sunday, the ruling house described the invasion of the palace and the removal of the royal staff of authority as a sacrilege.

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The statement, titled, ‘#EndSARS protest: Akinsemonyin ruling house condemns attacks on Oba’s palace,’ was co-signed by the Olori Ebi Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos, Chief Musliu Anibaba; Prince Saminu Akinsemoyin; Prince lbrahim Adekunle; and the Chairman of Egbe Omo Eko Nimi Lagos Forum, Prince Ademola Akinsemoyin.

Members of the ruling house said they watched with shock rioters’ “forcefully entering, ransacking, looting and desecrating  lga ldunganran (Oba Ado Palace) which is the Palace of Oba of Lagos.”

It said, “Painfully, the desecration of Oba’s Palace, in particular, the stolen ‘Opa Ase’ and our ancestral items with impunity has not only exasperated the tense atmosphere but also shows lack of respect for Lagos traditional heritages.

“Pertinently, the sad events were sacrilegious and an abomination to Lagos land, heritage and prohibited by Yoruba and Lagos tradition and social customs.

“Consequently, we implore the custodians of our heritages, Yoruba kings, traditional heads, and all religious leaders to work together to redeem and cleanse Lagos land of the present taboo and obscenity; and more importantly, strengthen our heritages that have been tampered with and forestall future occurrence and assault on royalties.”