Onikoyi Stool Dispute: 9 Ruling Houses Urge Sanwo-Olu to Reverse Monarch’s Installation

Tension is brewing in Ikoyi and Mobaland, Lagos State, following the installation of Prince Kunle Fafunwa—son of the late Oba Patrick Onikoyi—as the new Onikoyi of the kingdom. Nine out of the ten ruling houses have petitioned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to revoke the appointment, citing a breach of established chieftaincy traditions.

Prince Kunle Fafunwa was installed as the new monarch on July 15, 2025, after the passing of his father, Oba Patrick Onikoyi, in 2023. However, the protesting royal families argue that his installation violates the 2006 Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration as published in Gazette No. 45, which stipulates a rotational succession system. According to them, the next ruling house in line should be the Ojulari branch—not the Fafunwa lineage, which produced the last monarch.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved families during a press briefing in Lagos, Akin Fafunwa, General Secretary of the Onikoyi royal family, stated that the rightful candidate for the throne is Prince Omogbolahan Onikoyi.

“We believe the facts of this case may have been misrepresented to Governor Sanwo-Olu. We appeal to him not to legitimize an illegality at the expense of truth, justice, and tradition,” he said. “Prince Kunle Fafunwa was not selected for the vacant stool. Prince Omogbolahan Onikoyi is the rightful heir.”

Also speaking, the Olori Ebi (head) of the Ojulari branch, Akinyemi Esinlokun, called on the Lagos State government to uphold the traditional procedures for selecting monarchs and chiefs. “We urge the authorities to respect due process and avoid imposing anyone on us,” he said.

As of the time of this report, the Lagos State government has not made any official comment, and Prince Kunle Fafunwa has yet to respond to the objections raised.