By Kunle Akinrinade
The Lawani Odunewu Okoko branch of the Osokeji ruling house has picked a property mogul, Chief Hassan Odunewu as the Onisemo-elect of Lagos.
His selection was ratified by family members at a meeting in the Shyllon area of Palmgrove in Lagos State.
The monarch-elect promised to uphold the cultural values associated with the Onisemo stool by bringing the family together.
Odunewu said the religious diversity of members of the large royal family would be harnessed to project its cultural values.
‘’ I am a very traditional person who is conversant with the cultural norms and values of the Onisemo.
‘’However, the religious diversity of members of the family is not a hindrance to upholding our cultural values and traditional tenets.’’
Odunewu, who is the 14th Onisemo, a third class stool, also promised to work with all branches of the family.
‘’My knowledge of the family tenets and tradition gave me the edge during the screening and selection process and I am glad that my opponent even congratulated me. I stayed and lived with the family and I know what it takes to shoulder the responsibilities in order to elevate not just the family but Lagos in particular.’’
In his remarks, the family head, Alhaji AbdulWahab Odunewu, explained that five persons applied for the position out of which two were shortlisted before one of them was unanimously finally selected as monarch-elect.
‘’It is the turn of Lawani Odunewu branch of Osokeji to produce the 14th Onisemo of Lagos and that is what we have done today. The management committee handled the selection with five applicants out of which Kazeem Odunewu and Hassan Odunewu were initially shortlisted. At the end of the exercise, Hassan Odunewu was unanimously selected by all members of our great family to occupy the Onisemo stool.’’
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