As the race to ascend the throne of the Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ile begins, a former Students Union President at LAUTECH Ogbomoso who is also a certified Town Planner and Sustainable Development Advocate, Prince Adesola Kolawole has expressed his interest to ascend the ancient stool of the Onikoyi.
In a letter of expression of interest addressed to the Kingmakers of Ikoyi-Ile, Prince Kolawole noted that as a direct descendant of both Oba Kolawole Adegun I; Oba Aminu Kolawole Adegun II who reigned as Onikoyi between 1952-1973 and as a member of the Kolawole Adegun Royal family of Yowere Compound in Ikoyi-Ile, he is putting his foot forward to succeed the late Oba Abdulyekeen Ayinla Oladipupo IV who passed on to the great beyond a few weeks ago.
Born over 43 years ago, the polymath who is also a Technical Adviser on Agriculture and Rural Development at the National Assembly informed the Ikoyi-Ile Kingmakers that his parents are both from the Royal bloodline of Ikoyi-Ile and if selected, he will be bringing to the stool his wealth of experience acquired over the last two decades of social and sustainable development advocacy.
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He reiterated that his education, experience and exposure both in the public and private sector as well as a serial entrepreneur over the years will turn around the fortunes of the community and bring goodwill to Ikoyi Kingdom.
Our reporter gathered that the Oyo State Government via a correspondence from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters have approved the commencement of the administrative process for the succession of the Onikoyi stool.
The procedure according to a Centenarian in Ikoyi-Ile which was corroborated by two of the Kingmakers was that all interested princes from the identified ruling houses in Ikoyi-Ile would submit their applications endorsed by their family heads to the committee of Kingmakers.
The princes will thereafter be invited for a meeting to inaugurate the process after which they will wait for the selection and announcement of the Onikoyi-Elect after careful consultation with the ancestors in line with Yoruba tradition and culture.
So far, our investigation reveals that about 18 princes from the ruling houses in Ikoyi-Ile have expressed interest to vie for the vacant Onikoyi stool.
According to our findings, there is no white paper in any of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Gazettes containing a declaration for the throne of the Onikoyi hence, all interested legitimate princes are eligible to vie for the throne with the consent of their family heads.
Ikoyi-Ile, an agrarian community is reputed as an ancient town of great warriors and is the headquarters of Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State.