Ara’s Ex-Husband Loses Out in Kingship Tussle
Nurudeen Saliu, the ex husband of popular drummer, Aralolu Olumuyiwa, has been denied the opportunity to succeed his late father, Oba Bashir Oloruntoyin Saliu, on the throne of Oworonshoki. The traditional ruler joined his ancestors in 2021 after battling a brief illness. He died in London.
Ara and Nurudeen got married in 2009 but went their separate ways in 2011 after the drummer got to know that her husband was legally married to two other women before marrying her. The marriage was blessed with a son.
Following his father’s death, Nurudeen got the approval of the council of chiefs to take over the throne. Unfortunately, he was denied his rights and instead, his younger brother, Babatunde was crowned king. After the death of his father, a kingship tussle ensued in the kingdom. Two royal families, the Elebo and the Ajisegiri went to court over who should ascend the throne after the death of Oba Saliu. The Ajisegiri family, one of the ruling families in Oworonshoki, alleged that the Elebo should be disqualified as a ruling family in the kingship of Oworonshoki kingdom.
Finally an Ikeja High court ruled in favour of the Elebo ruling family and officially recognised it as the only ruling family in Oworonshoki kingdom. When many thought the kingship tussle had been resolved, the Elebo family came up with another crisis. Nurudeen’s younger brother, Babatunde signified interest in the throne and he was eventually crowned king of Oworonshoki in Kosofe Local Government Area.
The newly crowned king was a former Senior Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and a former vice chairman of Kosofe LGA in 2021. The event was held in a private ceremony held at the office of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat. However, a few days after he was declared the new king, some disgruntled members of the ruling family claimed that there was foul play in the emergence of the new king. They alleged that Babatunde was forcefully imposed on the kingdom. It was gathered that the king makers chose Nurudeen, the eldest son of the late monarch to fill the vacant stool. But his younger brother, Babatunde allegedly used his political influence to attain the position. One of the titled chiefs, Sultan Saliu, the Elebo of Oworonshoki also alleged that the new king did not follow the tradition and cultural practice needed to be done before he can be declared the new king.