Lagos Government Installs Adeleke Nasir as Pioneer Alajasa of Lagasa

By Emmanuel Daniji

LAGASA, IBEJU-LEKKI — A new chapter has opened in the traditional history of Lagasa Community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State following the official installation of Prince Adeleke Ayinde Nasir as the community’s pioneer Alajasa.

The Lagos State Government on Friday presented Nasir with the official Staff of Office and Instrument of Appointment, formally recognising him as the traditional ruler of the newly established stool.

The historic ceremony brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, government officials, residents and other stakeholders who gathered to witness the emergence of Lagasa’s first monarch.

The creation of the traditional stool followed its approval by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, with the Governor represented at the ceremony by his Special Adviser on Rural Development, Dr. Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje.

A New Traditional Institution for Lagasa

Delivering the Governor’s address, Agbaje described the establishment of the stool as another step towards strengthening traditional institutions and grassroots development across Lagos State.

He said traditional rulers remain important custodians of the culture and history of their communities while also playing significant roles in promoting peace, stability, unity and socio-economic development.

“The creation of this new traditional stool further underscores the important and critical role that our traditional institutions play as custodians of our cultural heritage and, most importantly, their invaluable contributions to peace, stability, unity, and socio-economic development across our communities,” Agbaje said.

The Governor’s representative also commended the Daodu Ogundare Ruling House and other ruling houses in Lagasa for conducting what he described as a peaceful and credible selection process.

He equally praised the leadership of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government for providing guidance throughout the process and ensuring that the selection was conducted in line with established traditions and administrative procedures.

Governor Urges New Monarch to Unite Lagasa

Beyond the ceremony and the symbolism of the new crown, the Lagos State Government charged the newly installed monarch with the responsibility of uniting the community.

Addressing Oba Adeleke Ayinde Nasir directly, Agbaje urged him to extend his leadership to every section of Lagasa, including those who had contested for the traditional stool.

“As you ascend this revered throne, I urge you to embrace all sons and daughters of Lagasa Community, including the other contestants to the throne. Let reconciliation, inclusiveness, and fairness guide your reign,” he advised.

The Governor’s representative also encouraged the monarch to maintain strong and productive relationships with the local and state governments, noting that cooperation between traditional institutions and government is essential to achieving sustainable development at the grassroots.

For a newly established traditional institution, the call for unity carries particular significance as the monarch begins the process of building confidence, strengthening relationships and establishing the identity of the new stool within the community.

Government Warns Against Chieftaincy Conflicts

The installation also provided an opportunity for the Lagos State Government to address wider concerns surrounding traditional institutions and chieftaincy affairs.

Agbaje cautioned traditional rulers against territorial disputes and the recognition or installation of chieftaincy titles that are not supported by the history, customs and traditions of the communities concerned.

He specifically warned against what he described as “unhealthy rivalry and conflicts arising from the installation of Baales outside their respective jurisdictions or the recognition of titles that are not rooted in the history, customs, and traditions of the communities concerned.”

The warning comes against the backdrop of the importance of clearly defined traditional jurisdictions in maintaining peace among neighbouring communities.

According to the government, avoiding such disputes is particularly important in developing areas such as the Ibeju-Lekki axis, where infrastructure development, youth opportunities and private investment depend significantly on a stable and peaceful environment.

The Moment Lagasa Got Its First Kabiyesi

The defining moment of the ceremony came with the presentation of the Instrument of Appointment and Staff of Office on behalf of Governor Sanwo-Olu.

With the presentation, Prince Adeleke Ayinde Nasir was formally proclaimed His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa Oba Adeleke Ayinde Nasir, Alajasa of Lagasa Community.

The presentation transformed what had previously been a newly approved traditional institution into a formally recognised royal stool, giving the monarch an official mandate to begin his reign.

For residents and community stakeholders who witnessed the ceremony, the occasion represented more than the installation of an individual.

It marked the beginning of a new traditional chapter for Lagasa.

Traditional Blessings for a New Reign

As the ceremony drew to a close, Agbaje offered traditional Yoruba royal blessings for the new monarch, praying for longevity, stability and prosperity throughout his reign.

“Ki Ade Pe Lori, Ki Bata Pe Lese, Ki Irukere Ma Po Si,” he said.

The traditional blessing translates broadly as a prayer that the crown remains long upon the monarch’s head, the shoes remain firmly on his feet and the royal horsetail continues to multiply in his hands.

The blessing captured the central expectation surrounding the new reign: that Oba Adeleke Ayinde Nasir will enjoy a long and successful tenure while providing leadership for the people of Lagasa.

A Call for Cooperation

The Lagos State Government subsequently called on residents, indigenes and other stakeholders in Lagasa to give the new monarch their cooperation and support.

The government said such collective support would be necessary to strengthen unity and accelerate development within the community.

As Oba Adeleke Ayinde Nasir begins his reign as the pioneer Alajasa of Lagasa, the expectations surrounding the new stool extend beyond royal ceremonies and cultural representation.

His reign will also be watched through the lens of community peace, inclusiveness, youth development and the ability to work with government and other stakeholders to advance the interests of Lagasa.

For the people of Lagasa, Friday’s ceremony was therefore not simply the installation of a monarch.

It was the formal beginning of a new era in the community’s traditional history.