The heir apparent to the Foyege’s throne in the ancient town of Remo in Sagamu local government of Ogun State, Mr. Obafemi Adetayo Adekoya has cried out to the government, well-meaning sons and daughters of Remo-land to come to his aid and that of his family over the threat to his life by the kingmakers of the town who insisted he must ascend the throne in place of his late father.
Adekoya’s ordeals started when he was approached to be the king of Foyege. This medium reliably gathered that he rejected the offer because the compulsory traditional ritual is against his Christian belief. Adekoya’s mother, Deaconess Olayinka Bolajoko Adekoya said being a King in itself is not a bad idea but the traditional rites that comes with it is totally against Biblical teachings; hence, the total rejection of it by her late husband.
Attempts were made on my husband’s life sometime in 2019 until he was finally killed on the same issue by assailants yet to be identified till today. Several attempts were also made to Obafemi’s life too to the extent that he had to travel to different states in Nigeria for safety.
Obafemi’s mother stated “The last straw that broke the camel’s back was when he left Abuja for Port-Harcourt because he was scared that those forcing him to take the position might carry out the threat to harm him just as they eventually did to his father. At some point, he realised that Abuja was no longer safe for him when the threats were becoming too much.
As at the last time I spoke with him early May 2021 he said, “At a point the fear increased geometrically to the extent that it affected the health and well-being of my family.
Adekoya’s mother, however, calls on the Governments to fish out the killers of their patriarch and to call the Kingmakers to order or get some of them who are bent on forcing him to be the King at the expense of his fundamental rights.
Adekoya is a banker of note with 17 years of experience, preferring his current profession rather than taking up the traditional title in Foyege.
On his part, Adekoya said “This is a disturbing issue, I am doing well as a banker and contented with it, I can’t imagine myself dumping my career and my religious beliefs for things that has something to do with worshipping Idols. For you to be a King you must engage in series of traditional rites and rituals, and I can’t stand it, my faith abhors it.
The head of the Kingmakers High Chief Ajanlekoko Olusegun would not stop disturbing my phones to accept this title – part of which is the circumcision of a girl child of a would-be king.”
“It is at this stage, I know there is plenty of trouble ahead. This is barbaric, circumcising girl -child in this age and time? No way, I can’t allow it. Our life is in danger, these people are trailing us,” he said.
While speaking with newsmen, one of the Kingmakers, High Chief Jafojo Apelogun said “Every town or community has its own culture and belief. The traditional belief here in our town is that, if the rightful owner of the throne is still alive, there can be no other King, or else the people would not have peace in the land. So, why did the Adekoya family refuse to ascend to the throne of their forefathers? Is it because of civilization or Christian faith?
I am a Christian as you see but I believe in our traditions”, he noted.
When asked if the family of Adekoya does not have right of first refusal, Apelogun reiterated that, that is the tradition of their land.
Findings by our correspondent shows this practice of forcing people to be king is still prevalent in many southern communities, the government must stand up to its responsibilities by ensuring people’s rights are protected and their fundamental rights to freedom of association and beliefs are well protected and not being trampled upon.