The Ojora of Ijora and Iganmu Kingdom in Lagos, Oba AbdulFatai Oyegbemi, has stripped six chiefs of their titles for attending a campaign event organised by Peter Obi’s Labour Party (LP) without his approval.
In a statement on Monday, the monarch accused the chiefs of impersonating him by appearing at the LP campaign flag-off in Apapa, an act he described as unacceptable.
“The Oba Ojora has officially dethroned six of his Baales and the Balogun for impersonating him at the Labour Party event,” the statement read. “This decisive action reaffirms his commitment to maintaining order within his leadership structure.”
The dethroned chiefs include:
– Lateef Ojora (Bale Alaba Oro)
– Saliu Biliamin (Bale Alafia Dodoro)
– Taiwo Hassan (Bale Oke Ira)
– Idris Ojora (Bale Abule Kere)
– Hakeem Oseni (Bale Mosafejo Amukoko)
– Sule Balogun (Balogun of Abule Kere)
The statement also praised the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led APC government for developmental projects in the kingdom, with the monarch pledging continued support for the administration.
The move comes as political parties ramp up preparations for the 2027 general elections. In the 2023 presidential poll, Obi defeated President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, though Tinubu secured victory nationally.
The monarch’s decision highlights tensions in Lagos politics, where traditional institutions often align closely with the ruling party.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
