Council chair, traditional ruler at loggerheads over land issue in Lagos 

CITIZENS COMPASS— Palpable fear has enveloped some parts of Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State, as the Council Chairman, Mr Idris Balogun, popularly known as Oluomo Kafata, and the traditional ruler of the area, the Onisheri of Isheri Olofin, Oba Dr. Ibrahim Olasunkanmi Lawal-Bello, are currently in a power tussle.

Following the power tussle that has led to arrests and counter-arrests in the area, palace activities in Egbe-Idimu have been suspended as residents and traditional leaders fear what will happen next.

A resident of Egbe-Idimu, Mr. Akolade Adetomiwa, who contacted our correspondent on Thursday, said that despite the Yuletide season, residents now put their lives in jeopardy as the ongoing tussle between family members may lead to the invasion of land grabbers in the community.

He called on the security apparatus in the State to wade into the matter. “Lagos State Government should intervene in this matter and checkmate the power tussle.” He said.

Findings revealed that Egbe-Idimu LCDA has stylishly taken over land matters in place of the traditional ruler who succeeded his father in July 2024.

Feelers from the community said the council did not only take over land matters but stylishly stripped the monarch of certain traditional powers to the extent that the council chairman now oversees buying or sales of land and gives peanuts to the monarch.

Citizens Compass gathered that the Chairman has told the monarch to stay off land matters and only to collect ratification whenever the need arises.

Some years back, Lagos State Government banned activities in high tension areas, removed shanties and make-shifts around them.

To the surprise of many, the high-tension area around Oladun Street, Isheri Olofin, has been sold to a private company.

Investigations by Citizens Compass revealed that about N150m was paid as the first instalment on the land out of which a paltry sum of N10m was given to the monarch.

This was said to have resulted in fresh crises as some loyalists of the Council Chairman and monarch clashed at the power line and this led to arrests and counter-arrests among both parties.

With the development, the Chairman was said to have given the monarch 24 hours to return his official car to the council but some family members declined this by sending emissaries to the Chairman who is yet to respond to this.

Not only this, the Council Chairman issued a query to the monarch to explain his alleged involvement in the crisis that erupted at the high tension area.

The query was contained in a letter signed by the Chairman.

The letter requested that the monarch explain his alleged involvement in the deployment of hoodlums and cultists to cause mayhem on Oladun Street, Isheri Olofin.

The letter mandated the monarch to respond to the query within 24 hours, in line with due process.

The Chairman said the letter was administrative and procedural, aimed at ensuring clarity, accountability, and harmonious coexistence within the community.

He urged residents and stakeholders to remain calm and go about their activities peacefully.

However, as of Thursday evening, there was palpable fear in the community.

Also, palace activities have been suspended for fear of the unknown.