HOW OBA-ELECT FOR ISHERI OLOFIN EMERGED UNDER A PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE

Story by Toyo C. Ngem & Ololade Barakat

It was a bright morning of Wednesday, December 13, 2023. The atmosphere was cool and calm as the the kingmakers assembled in the palace of Onisheri of Isheri Olofin. There was no tension however and whatsoever, so the tranquility to make the ambience of the selection of a new king for the Isheri Olofin kingdom was never in doubt.

Arriving in groups and one after the other were the provincial Baales in the kingdom, represenatives of the quarters making up the royal and chieftains clans of the town and some influential low and mighty locals. The regent of Olofin, who doubles as the Aremo Oba of Isheri Olofin, High Cheif Biliamunu Balogun kicked of the event with a ceremonial request of what the gathering at the palace was meant to be. Prince Idris Balogun, aka Oluomo Kaafata, who responded as the spokesman for the chiefs and kingmakers on seat however threw the banter that the regent was already aware of what the event was "because we planned it together", he said.

He nevertheless went further to reveal the purpose of the event to be a public presentation of the Onisheri-elect to the public and the people of Isheri Olofin in particular after conducting all the due process necessary to that effect. He listed part of the criteria the kingmakers used to select the new Onisheri in waiting to included the character of the personality, participation in the past struggles and wars the Isheri Olofin had fought both in land matters and others, and a cause of justice that should give the sense of belonging to all the true born of Isheri Olofin Land. According to him, these were the requirements his father, the immediate past Onisheri of Isheri Olofin, Oba Wahab Ayinde Balogun, had wished to be considered for the selection of whoever would succeed him.

Prince Balogun went further to extol the virtues of the selected Oba before presenting him. He said: "Isheri Olofin is an ancient kingdom established by generations of our forefathers. My father, Oba Wahan Ayinde Balogun in his own era, had done a lot to build the land of Isheri Olofin to this enviable standard. He fought many battles particularly in land matters, which are yet ongoing. Because of this, we need someone who will be able to step into his shoes with the courage to carry on from where he stopped.

"With the good names and virtues the Isheri Olofin is now known for, we cannot afford to select anybody with questionable character. We cannot make someone that had never been on ground in the town, someone we do not know his origin to become the king of Isheri Olofin. Our choice is someone we know his character his true background, his activities in the community. To this end, I want to present the people's choice made through the majority of the kingmakers. I am speaking for all the consenting chiefs of Isheri Olofin with whom the selection of our new king was made. Collectively, we present to the people of Isheri Olofin and the general public, the Onisheri-elect, Akeem Ogundeji of the Olanwa Quarters of Isheri Olofin as the new King of Isheri Olofin to be".

The Palace erupted into wild jubilation amidst the chorus: Kabiyesiooo!!! This was followed by dancing and drumming as the community women sang a series of Awori lyrics to the Gbedu Oba (the king's drum). Speaking to Civics Weekly Magazine soon after his proclamation, Oba Ogundeji-elect said he was fulfilled and in joy that "this day has finally come". He said the people of Isheri Olofin would have cause to be happy that they had reposed their confidence in him. He called on other opposition applicants to the throne to join hands with him in running the affairs of the kingdom.

He said: "I thank God for today and I want to say it is the happiest day of my life. We have being in this process for over two years. It is a great joy that among others that were deemed to qualify for the throne of Onisheri of Isheri Olofin, the people of the kingdom had found me worthy to be their next king. This is like an examination for me. Already, people know me that I am not a trouble maker and I have been an active person in matter of community affairs, particularly as a youth leader. I will only say that they will never regret my time of kingship over Isheri Olofin.

Also speaking on the side line of the event, the Regent, High Chief Biliaminu Balogun, and the Otun Oba of Isheri Olofin, Prince Akolawobe Olawale expressed joy that Isheri Olofin succeeded in selecting her new king without any rancor. The regent said: "I give thanks to God, my late father and indeed, our ancestors, who made today's event come to past under me and in my presence. I am also particularly grateful that we have made the right choice without any acrimony over it in Isheri Olofin. We have done it the way it should be done and it has to be the way it should be".

On his part, the Otunba of Isheri Olofin talked on the Pedigree of the Oba-elect with good testimony to his character. He said: "I am happy for this day because we have being waiting for it not one year or two years past since the late king departed this world. I also thank God for our choice of Oba elect, who is a true son of this kingdom that had been with our past king and working with him in the past. He is currently the Agba Akin of Isheri Olofin, a chieftaincy he got as Olori Odo'lu - Community Youth leader. We can attest to his good character from how he conducted his office as the youth leader. He was the chairman of a community organisation, called Egbe Alajobi (literally to mean Association of Indigenous youth) of Isheri Olofin. During his time, he ran a transparent affair. He gave account of all the money in his care and we found it credible when he was handing over to hi successor. It is for this reason we believe he is a truthful and Godly person that is worth to be the next king". Closing the palace event, the Chiefs and the Oba-elect led the procession of the locals in walk through the major roads and streets of the town, stopping at essential places of heritage. Such was the visit to the ancestral home of the new king at Olanwa Quarters where prayers and libations were offered to his late father and forebearers. The king's mother who received the crowd could not curtail her joy as she started rolling on ground before the people. Another visit was to the burial ground of the king elect's immediate predecessor, Oba Balogun where prayers were also offered in turn by the Regent his brother, Prince Idris Balogun and the Oba elect.

Reception followed at White Royale Hotel at powerline axis of the town.