Following peace efforts by various brokers, Ipakodo (Ebute) in Ikorodu division, is most likely to have a new Oba by January 2017 after seventeen (17) years of legal and institutional tussles, which erupted after the demise of HRM Oba Hassan Jimbo in 1999.
Source close to the traditional authorities told Oriwu Sun that the Obaship tussle, which pitched against each other, the Onafowokan and Animashaun ruling families, will now be settled out of court following agreement for peace reached by all the parties involved in the dispute.
Oriwu Sun gathered that Oba Kabiru Shotobi of Ikorodu is among the peace makers, who made it possible for the warring parties to reach a peaceful agreement to settle the dispute out of court.
It is not yet certain the details of the agreement and whether the Animashaun family will settle the legal bills of the other families on the protracted litigations, but a source said it is obvious that at least a token amount will be paid as compensation to appease the opposing camp.
Competent sources told Oriwu Sun that the parties have drafted the document that will be forwarded to the court to facilitate the out of court settlement.
Also, a new successor, on arrangement, is said to be in the making to ensure that in future, there will be no such deep disagreements as recently witnessed. These will be highlighted in the communique both fending parties are expected to sign in the peace agreement/out of court settlement.
The new Oba of Ipakodo is said to be an engineer who worked as a Director in the State Ministry of Works before he retired.
He is from the popular Animashaun family and is said to be a wealthy man and a member of the prestigious Oriwu Club. His senior brother, Taju Animashaun is a very close brother of the Publisher of Oriwu Sun and those who know him well affirm that he is a competent and disciplined man who can lead Ipakodo to great heights. He is engineer Bashir Shotomiwa.
Believers in traditional religion say the oracles have done well to have helped to make the new choice for Ipakodo possible leaving only Ijede now in the division as the town without an Oba.
It will be recalled that Ipakodo has been under a regent, Chief Rasheed Shitta for the twenty (20) years of the tussle for this Obaship throne Chief Shitta has successfully held the ship of the community from sinking.
Baring all unforeseen circumstances, the new Oba Shotomiwa Animashaun may ascend the throne by January 2017 according to sources.
Oriwu Sun is close to this new king-to-be and will be bringing to our readers update on his rise to the monarchy of the town.