The popular Anoko-Ogbonyari Akarigbo royal family of Ikorodu has warned Omoba Jokotex Ogunbiyi Oyeneye to stop parading himself as the head (Olootu) of Ogbonyari Akarigbo branch of the family.
The warning was issued by the Olootu (head) Omoba Anoko-Ogbonyari family in Ikorodu, Chief Ajasa Efunowo Anoko.
Omoba Jokotex, who was recently installed as the Baale Idafa Odoguloye, Ikorodu, is being alleged of parading himself as Olootu Ebi Ogbonyari Akarigbo without the consent of the entire family.
The controversy regarding Jokotex’s alleged claim to the headship of the Ogbonyari Akarigbo branch of the Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family started when he printed on the invitation card for his installation ceremony that he was going to be installed as both Baale of Idafa Odoguloye and Olootu Ebi Ogbonyari Akarigbo instead of the Baaleship position which the family agreed upon.
The family, upon getting hint of Jokotex’s intention, quickly sent a copy of the invitation card with a letter to Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, to inform him of the development and to maintain that they had only agreed to install Jokotex as a Baale and not as Olootu.
Oba Shotobi, while acting on the family’s stand during Jokotex’s installation as Baale of Idafa Odoguloye at the Ayangbure palace, specifically told him that he was only being installed as a Baale and not Olootu as printed on his invitation card.
The monarch added that if the family is interested in making Jokotex their head, they should bring him back to the palace for a separate installation.
The family stated that despite the clarification made by Oba Shotobi, Jokotex is still going about addressing himself as the head of the Ogbonyari Akarigbo family, the latest being the interview he granted to a news medium in Ikorodu where he identified himself as Olootu Ogbonyari Akarigbo.
The interview is said to be circulating on the social media, particularly those related to Ikorodu division.
However, Chief Efunowo, who is the overall head of the Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family in Ikorodu, in an interview with Oriwu Sun, warned Omoba Jokotex to eschew any act capable of creating division in the family by desisting from parading himself as Olootu Ogbonyari Akarigbo and maintain his status only as Baale of Idafa Odoguloye.
He explained that the family, despite being made up of two branches (Anoko and Ogbonyari), has been one united and indivisible family since the time of his predecessor, late Shittu Odidi who was the Olootu of the Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family in lkorodu, before he was installed as the Olootu by Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, the late Ayangbure of Ikorodu, in 2005.
While tracing the history of the family, Chief Efunowo explained that their two progenitors (Anoko and Ogbonyari) came from the Koyelu family in Shagamu, Ogun State, to settle down in Ikorodu which, according to him, was then known as ‘Oriwu’.
He said though the family came to take Anoko, who was the younger brother, back to Shagamu to become an Oba, the unity and cordial relationship between him and his elder brother (Ogbonyari) remained intact and never parted.
The family head stated that the unity and oneness between their two progenitors, which endured throughout their lifetime, was the foundation upon which their descendants in Shagamu and Ikorodu built their relationship till this present day and that there has never been any case of division or disunity, adding that the family still holds meeting regularly as a single entity in Itunraye and Itunmeko compounds in Shagamu and Ikorodu respectively.
He described Omoba Jokotex’s recent claim to the headship of the Ogbonyari Akarigbo as over-ambitiousness and a ploy to divide the family and warned that he would not allow such to happen under his reign.
Chief Efunowo stated that the Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family remains one single family and that he remains the unified head.
“The claim by Jokotex that he’s the Olootu Ebi Ogbonyari Akarigbo is false and it came to me as a surprise because he was only installed as a Baale and not as Olootu.
“The Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family has not installed separate head for Ogbonyari branch of the family. The family remains one single and united family with one head (Olootu) and there has been no division among us.
“As the only recognized Olootu for Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family in lkorodu, l am not going to allow the family to be divided under my watch because that did not happen during the time of our ancestors and my predecessor.”
“Though, his claim remains a rumour because he has not said it to my face. But I’ll wait till we meet at our general meeting before engaging him on the matter.”
“He’s only been over ambitious but l will appeal to him to learn how to respectfully relate with the elders and leaders of the family. He should patiently wait for his own turn to claim the leadership of the family”.
Chief Efunowo also confirmed that a letter has already been written to Oba Shotobi informing him that the family only installed Jokotex as Baale Idafa Odoguloye and not as Olootu Ebi Ogbonyari Akarigbo and that the Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family remains one united and indivisible family.
Meanwhile, Omoba Jokotex, in his reaction during a brief telephone interview with Oriwu Sun, said that the opposition being put up by the Anoko branch of the family is needless because he has only been made the Olootu Ebi Ogbonyari Akarigbo which is his own branch of the Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family, and not the the Olootu for the entire family.
He explained that the opposition could have been tenable if he had been made the Olootu for the entire Anoko- Ogbonyari royal family since the family already has a general head who is from the Anoko branch.
“I don’t know why the Awomodus (Anoko branch) are contesting my emergence as Olootu for my branch of the family. Their opposition is needless.
“The Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family is made up of two (Anoko and Ogbonyari). I am from the Ogbonyari branch. The people of my branch saw the need for us to have a head (Olootu) in our branch and they decided to install me as their head.
“l was only installed as Olootu for Ogbonyari branch. Their opposition could have been justified if l had been made the Olootu for the entire Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family, because that could have amounted to an attempt to create division in the family since we already have someone from the Anoko branch as the overall head of the entire family but that is not the case”.
On whether there’s need for Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, to ratify his installation as Olootu Ebi Ogbonyari, Omooba Jokotex said that the directive and approval for his installation came from Sagamu which is the source of the Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family and that it was backed up with an appointment letter, stating that Ayangbure’s ratification does not matter much.
He said that his branch of the family has the right to have their own Olootu and wondered why the Anokos are opposing his emergence despite occupying three positions that are meant for the entire Anoko-Ogbonyari royal family.
“I don’t know what they want again.
Are they saying that my branch has no right to have their own Olootu when they have already occupied three positions which the whole family is entitled to.
“The general Olootu for the entire family is from their branch.The Otunba Anoko-Ogbonyari and Otunba Mulero are also from their branch. So,why are they complaining about my emergence as Olootu for my own branch?”
Omoba Jokotex also alleged the Anoko branch of instigating Oba Shotobi to write a letter of protest to Sagamu, against his installation as Olootu Ebi Ogbonyari Akarigbo, but stated that a letter has already been sent from Sagamu to the Ayangbure informing him that the Ogbonyari branch has the right to install him as their