Akinsanya Olojo-Kosoko Ruling House Appeals to Lagos Government Over Delay in Installation of Oloja (Elect)
By Ranti Thomas
The Akinsanya Olojo-Kosoko Ruling House has issued a fresh and urgent appeal to the Lagos State Government over the prolonged delay in the confirmation and installation of Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko as the Oloja of Lagos (Elect). The formal appeal, conveyed in a letter dated 5 December 2025, was addressed to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, urging swift action to resolve what the family describes as an unnecessary delay in finalizing the historic succession.
The letter, written on behalf of the Julius Akinsanya Olojo-Kosoko Descendant Family, traces the protracted succession crisis that followed the demise of Chief Adebola Idris Disu Ige on 23 December 2017. Since then, the ruling house asserts that it has diligently followed all traditional and legal protocols to ensure a smooth and rightful succession, honoring both time-honored customs and statutory provisions.
According to the family, a 16-man committee was constituted shortly after the vacancy arose to oversee the process. Following extensive evaluations, the King Kosoko Royal/Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family formally presented candidates from the Akinsanya ruling house, culminating in traditional interviews and consultations with the kingmakers at the Kosoko Palace on 7 October 2020.
Four candidates were presented during the screening process: Prince Abiola Kosoko, Prince Shola Olojo-Kosoko (now deceased), Prince Issa Adeyemi Aregbesola, and Mr. Abiola Yakubu Arowomashodu of the Odunsi Ruling House. After careful interrogation and thorough assessment, the kingmakers unanimously concluded that Prince Abiola Kosoko was the most qualified and suitable candidate for the Oloja stool.
The family emphasizes that Prince Abiola Kosoko was formally declared elected on 12 December 2020, in line with the Lagos State Obas and Chiefs Law and the 1983 Registered Declaration, which remains valid and binding. Legal proceedings at the Lagos State High Court and the Court of Appeal did not annul the Registered Declaration, affirming the legitimacy of the family’s claim to the throne.
Subsequent directives from the Lagos Island Local Government, including an official communication dated 24 June 2021, required that all traditional requirements, including the filling of vacant white-cap stools, be fulfilled before installation. The Akinsanya Olojo-Kosoko Ruling House asserts that it complied fully with these instructions, providing all necessary documentation and fulfilling every procedural requirement.
Despite repeated correspondence with state authorities, including letters dated 26 September 2023 and 20 February 2024, the family says it has remained in limbo, awaiting official approval for the installation ceremony. The prolonged delay has caused concern and frustration within the royal family and among stakeholders in Lagos chieftaincy affairs.
The ruling house maintains that, by tradition, descendants of King Kosoko—the 10th King of Lagos and the first Oloja—are entitled to the Oloja throne. They assert that the Akinsanya Olojo-Kosoko Ruling House is next in line under the Akaregbere Class of Lagos chieftaincy families and should be recognized accordingly.
While expressing concern over the delay, the family reaffirmed its respect for constituted authorities and reiterated its commitment to peaceful and constructive engagement. The letter calls for dialogue and prompt resolution to ensure that Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko is duly confirmed and installed, in line with historical precedence and legal provisions.
The appeal was signed by Prince Surajudeen Abiodun Olojo-Kosoko, Head of the Family, and Prince Theophilous Olojo-Kosoko, General Secretary. Copies of the letter were forwarded to key state officials, local government authorities, traditional institutions, and media organizations, signaling the family’s determination to bring public attention to this unresolved chieftaincy matter of immense historical and cultural significance in Lagos State.