By Christopher Oji
The Kuseku Royal Family of Okanran town in Ado Odo, Ogun State, has raised the alarm over attempts by unscrupulous members of the town to create enmity between the Olu’ of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and the Olofin of Ado Odo, Oba Olusola Idris Osolo over what they described as “their selfish interests “
They family noted that one of such moves to create division between the two Obas was a recent protest by a few disgruntled members of the town at the palace of the Olu’ of Ilaro without first bringing their grievance to the attention of Olofin of Ado Odo ,who reigns over Okanran town
The leadership of the family, however, noted that the protest at the palace of Olu of Ilaro was a diversionary attempt by the organizers to cover their tracks on the illegal sale of family land ,which has become a subject of investigation to the police and also a matter of determination by a competent law court .
Balogun of Ado Odo Kingdom ,who is also the secretary of the Kuseku Royal Family ,Chief Olukayode Akapo ,explained that “ They ( the protesters) are just trying to be clever by half .They want to create division between our royal fathers,the Olu of Ilaro and the Olofin Adimula of Ado Odo .
“ What many of those people,who joined them don’t know ,however, is the fact that the organizers Tope ,Toyin and Adebiyi Akapo, who are members of our family, are trying to cover up for their atrocities with the sale of a large expanse of the Kuseku Family land,part of which had been sold by our fathers and which is already a subject of investigation and litigation”.
Akapo ,who spoke on behalf of the head of the family ,90 years old Pa Olarinde Akapo , wondered that, “ If truly they are sincere ,why didn’t they first complain to the Olofin Adimula of Ado ,who is the customary head of towns under Ado Kingdom before protesting at the palace of Olu’ of Ilaro.
“ I am also Akapo,but Akapo is just a branch of Kuseku Royal Family . We have other branches .The current Baale of Okanran ,Chief Jimoh Jaiyeola Togun is from one of the other branches of Kuseku extended family.That is clear to everybody .
“ At a time ,because of the cordial relationship between our forefathers ,we adopted Akapo as our family name,but during a court case over our family land against the Eguns in Ado Odo ,we reverted to our original name ,which is “ Kuseku .
“ The family name ‘Kuseku” has therefore, been formalized and regularized at the court and is even documented at the National Library till date. We won our cases against the Eguns with Kuseku and not Akapo .Evidence abounds on this .
“ As far back as 2015 ,there were publications in major newspapers informing the public of the collective decision of the family to reverse to our ancestral name Kuseku and it was documented at the National Library .”
He listed the following people as the principal members of Kuseku Royal Family of Ado Odo :Chief Olarinde Alabi Akapo , Aniratu Akapo ,Chief Mrs Modupe Oluwunmi Akapo ,Afusat Akapo ,Olayemi Alamu Akapo ,Mr Festus Akanji Akapo , Madam Serifat Akapo,
Pastor Adebayo Akapo ,Mrs Okufunmilayo Salako and Obidairo Togun .
Baale of Okanran ,Chief Jaiyeola Jimoh Togun ,who is also the Chairman ,Olofin Council of Baale described the protest as “ deceitful “and an attempt to puncture the peace and orderliness in Ado Odo
He noted that, “ I have been the Baale of Okanran since 2010 .I was duly presented with certificates by the then Olofin of Ado Odo,late Oba Abdulateef Akanni Adeniran and the then, chairman of Ado Odo / Ota LG( copies were made available to newsmen ).There is no controversy over my title as the Baale .
“ As for my membership of the Kuseku family ,there are copious documents ,both legal and civil ,jointly signed by my late father and the former Baale ,who coincidentally is the father of the chief organizer of the protest ,Tope Akapo .”
The village head also continued that,” Most of what they are protesting over have been decided by the court and the traditional institution in Ado Odo .They are merely trying to cause confusion and create enmity between our royal fathers and their subject .
The village head noted that “ This who issue started ,when the police started investigation into the sale of a large expand of land that the Kuseku family sold to a company ,Radco Nigeria Limited
Most of those ,who bought the land ,claimed to have bought it from Tope ,who has no authority or instruction from the family .The case is still pending in court as I speak to you .”
He stressed that “ Our Family has a systemic way of doing things We have a family head ,90 years old Pa Olarinde Akapo ,who is not just old enough to be our father but also of the same father with Tope ,who is behind the whole disorderliness .
We always have representatives ,who were chosen from the different branches of Kuseku Royal Family to act on behalf of the entire family family “
