OLOFIN CANDIDATES IN 2024

 *ADO-ODO: THE MAKING OF A NEW OBA OF ADO/OLOFIN ADIMULA OF ADO ODO, AWORILAND, OGUN STATE.*👑 


Following the demise of *Oba AbdulLateef Adeniran Akanni, Olofin Ojikutujoye* from *Idobarun Ruling House*, on *7th January 2022*, *Okewaye Ruling House*, whose turn it is to 

produce the next Olofin of Ado-Odo met at the family compound on

*6th March, 2022*. At the meeting, *Alhaji Prince Kelani Lamidi-Osolo*, the indisputable Family Head and patriarch raised the hand of *Prince Mufutau Francis Adekunle* to take over from him as the Head of the Ruling house. It was a hitch-free appointment with no objection or rancor in any form. Papa being a Centenarian could no longer continue to function effectively as a  family head, particularly at meetings.


*Okewaye Ruling House, Ado Odo*, met severally thereafter to harmonize itself while interested aspirants were asked to formally write to indicate interest in the vacant Olofin throne.

                                                                                

In *May 2023*, Okewaye Ruling House through *Prince Mufutau Francis Adekunle and Prince Joshua Oladele Bankole the Head and Secretary* respectfully presented a list of those who expressed interest in the vacant stool being bona fide members of the family. Thereafter, they wrote about themselves, the lineages they belong to in Okewaye Ruling House with applications to *Ado-Odo Community Elders, leaders of thought, traditionalists, women and youths and two Coronet Obas including the leaders of the four indigenous quarters (Orita Egbe Ibile Oke-Osi, Odo-Osi, Odojana & Okejana)*, on the need for aspirants to keep peace while refraining from bitterness that could plunge Ado-Odo Kingdom into fresh crisis again. 


The list of aspirants includes *Idris Olusola Adebowale Lamidi-Osolo, Prince Sadiq Oluwatosin Muniru, Prince Taofeek Olajíde Aina, Prince Akeem Olaniyi Alagbe-Durosinmi Asade Gandi Oyelegbin, Prince Rasaq Olamilekan Olaoye, Prince Yusuf Bankole, Prince Nafiu Gbelẹyi Abu Apagbọn, Prince Rasheed Olabode Adeyemo, Prince Adebayo Enoch Akinde, Prince Sarafa Olugbenga Oladitan Adeyelu Raji, Prince Fatai Olabisi Opaleye, Prince Akinyele Mutiu Balogun, Prince Kazeem Adesola Adekunle, Prince Falilu Akanbi Lamidi -Osolo, Prince Kareem Adeola Alabi, Prince Kamoru Adeola Kokiyan Okoosi Asade Gandi Oyelegbin and Dr. Olufemi Alao Dosumu*. 


A familiarisation session was later conducted on behalf of the community, whereby *thirteen (13) aspirants appeared before the Committee*.


An interview method with structured questions was used. *The oral session was conducted in Yoruba* and each aspirant was allowed to attend with *ten (10) people*. The exercise was also *recorded on videotape*.

Areas of focus include personal data, that is, name, age, marital status, and education (academic and professional qualifications). Available certificates were also checked to ascertain various claims. Enquiries were made into the employment and health status backed by current medical reports and history connecting each of the aspirants to Okewaye Ruling House, Ado. The Committee also considered communication skills (clarity, eloquence, and relevance), comportment, dressing, and record of contributions to community development (ownership of immovable assets like buildings, thriving businesses, donations to community projects, membership of social clubs/community-based associations, philanthropic gestures, scholarship and grants to indigents, self-driven poverty alleviation programs, etc).


*The contenders were also quizzed on names of past Obas from Okewaye Ruling House, Ruling Houses in Ado-Odo and the core indigenous administrative quarters, proverbs relating to Yoruba culture and tradition, elders, reasons for aspiring to the throne, readiness to blend modernity with traditional practices.* 


Finally, *the Committee also scrutinized the aspirants' statement of accounts focusing on solvency, tax clearance, and security check through the office of State Security Service*.


Notably, three lineages of Okewaye Ruling House traceable to *Oduila, Asade Awope (Ọ̀tẹ́níbọ̀tẹ̀mọ́lẹ̀) and Ẹ̀lùmúníwàyè (Alekokobíowú)* were identified. 

Four aspirants (Princes Taofeek Aina, Kamoru Kokiyan, Akeem Alagbe, and Fatai Opaleye) traced their roots to *Oduila*, 

three aspirants (Princes Falilu Lamidi, Idris Lamidi and Mutiu Balogun) traced theirs to *Aṣade Awope* while the other six aspirants (namely Princes Kazeem Adekunle, Sarafa Raji, Sadiq Muniru, Enoch Akinde, Nafiu Gbeleyi and Olabode Adeyemo) mentioned *Onilejaka/ Elumuniwaye pedigrees*.


Most of the aspirants displayed exceptional humility at the interview session. Age-wise, *one is in his sixties*, *seven of them are in their fifties*, *three are in their forties* and *two are in their thirties*. All of them are married with children. *Ten aspirants are Muslims*; *two are Christians* and *one believes in African indigenous religion*.


They all attended secondary schools; *ten are university graduates*; *six have postgraduate qualifications with professional qualifications as well in their chosen fields*. 


Regarding their employment status, Princes Kazeem Adekunle and Nafiu Gbeleyi, an advertising practitioner are into signage for the Local Government, Taofeek Aina, Idris Lamidi-Osolo, Olabode Adeyemo and Kamoru Kokiyan (USA based) are self-employed and into private practice. Fatai Opaleye, Sodiq Muniru, Mutiu Balogun, Sarafa Raji, a civil engineer based in Ilogbo-Eremi, and Falilu Lamidi are public servants either with the Federal or State Governments as core civil servants, teacher, and/or security operatives. Prince Mutiu Akinyele Balogun, a performing artist and a trained Journalist... , Prince Enoch Adebayo, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), works in a private company while Prince Akeem Alagbe, a software engineer with Six Sigma Green Belt Process Champions, operates as the ICT-cum-Business Continuity Manager, Nestle, a multinational entity for Central and West African regions. 


Seven panelists *(Oba Musiliu Odunaro-Ọjọmu, Prince Wasiu Akinde, Alhaji R. O. Akinola, Architect M.A. Fari, Prof. N. O. Adebowale, Mrs. Dupe Kelani and Princess Tope Akapo* scored all the aspirants using the parameters and marks allotted on the score sheet. 


The process for the nomination and selection of a new Olofin of Ado-Odo progressed with Okewaye Ruling House meeting in *Ado-Odo Town Hall* on *Wednesday, 7th February 2024* under the auspices of *officials of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Council*, whereby *15 aspirants were nominated.* 


*Below is the list of the fifteen aspirants namely*: 


1) Idris Olusola Adebowale Lamidi-Osolo (36) 

2) Prince Sadiq Oluwatosin Muniru (35)

3) Prince Taofeek Olajíde Aina (55)

4) Prince Akeem Olaniyi Alagbe (52)

5) Prince Yusuf Bankole

6) Prince Nafiu Gbelẹyi Abu Apagbọn (41)

7) Prince Rasheed Olabode Adeyemo (46)

8) Prince Adebayo Enoch Akinde (55)

9) Prince Sarafa Olugbenga Oladitan Adeyelu Raji (49)

10) Prince Fatai Olabisi Opaleye (55)

11) Prince Akinyele Mutiu Balogun (50)

12) Prince Kazeem Adesola Adekunle (52)

13) Prince Falilu Akanbi Lamidi Osolo (60)

14) Prince Kamoru Adeola Kokiyan Okoosi Asade Gandi (57)

15) Dr. Olufemi Alao Dosumu (77)


Members of the Police, Department of State Security Service (DSS) 

and the military provided tight security to forestall a breakdown of law and order at the venue.


The next stage is the election by Warrant Kingmakers among whom are *Alhaji Jimoh Ayinla Bankole, FCA, a descendant of Ogailu Odunlami, Idojisu, Ado-Odo, retired Emeritus Bursar at the University of Ibadan, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin and at present, Bursar of Crescent University, Abeokuta*, 

*Engr. Musibau Alade Jimoh, MNSE, a descendant of Bamgbose Okoosi, Bajomu Ruling House, Ijomu, and Idelero compounds both in Ado Odo. He is a retired Manager from the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), and now a business tycoon and politician*, 

*Mr. Shehu Tijani Edalere, a retired headteacher and politician*, 

*Chief Azeez Olumide Taiwo, a business tycoon from Idoaje*, 

*Alhaji Ibraheem Muyideen Agbogunlori, a Muslim cleric from Idafin compound Ado Odo*,

*Chief Monday Akanni Opaleye, Ikọ̀ Ọ̀gáìlú Odòjànà*, 

*Chief Timothy Adedire Akinbo*, 

*Mr. Isiaka Musibaudeen*

 and *Mr. Tajudeen Adekunjo*.

     

We beseech God in His infinite mercies to give Ado-Odo a new Olofin that will foster the integration of diverse interests in the community, usher in progress, and total transformation of Ado-Odo Kingdom into a prosperous and peace-loving community.


From: Olasunkanmi Akapo

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