Following the demise of the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, late Rtd. Justice, Oba Ademola Ajakaye on September 22, 2019; the race for the emergence of a new monarch for the kingdom has continued to get tougher.
For the fact that the kingdom is under the ruling house of Oketagidigidi, however, its sub-division into nine is making the race to the throne a very interesting one.
Findings revealed that the Oketagidigidi royal family, which is the one and only direct line to the throne, is sub-divided into nine ruling houses of Owolabi, Ajakaye, Falodun, Ajengele, Omoyajowo, Oladogbe, Adebayo, Omotoso and Dada, which is the last but not the least.
The fate of who becomes the occupier of the throne of Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti kingdom will be determined by the kingmakers, who are 12 in number, drawn from the four quarters the kingdom is divided into. These include Uro Quarter, Oke Ilawe Quarter, Oketoro Quarter and Ibedoyin Quarter.
The titles of the kingmakers of the Kingdom are Aro Afobaje, Odofin Oje, Elejide, Odofin, Elemo, Osangan, Oluko, Petu, Odogun, Odofinyin, Asale and Odole. Among all the Kingmakers in Iyin Ekiti Kingdom, Chief Odofinyin is the second in command to the throne of the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti Kingdom; he also doubles as the Head of the Kingmakers of the kingdom. Presently, Princess Adeola Ajakaye is the Regent of Iyin Ekiti and she is currently out of the Kingdom. Her absence gives an opportunity to Odofin Iyin to serve as the only custodian of cultures, tradition and customs of Iyin Ekiti.
While speaking with the head of the kingmakers and Odofinyin of Iyin Ekiti, High Chief Ayodeji Esan, he confirmed to PMParrot that the Ekiti State Government has replied and approved the request of seven warrant chiefs to fill up vacant positions of the kingmakers.
This was as a result of a letter communicated to the government by the Iyin Ekiti Kingmakers on the need to elect seven warrant chiefs to replace the deceased chiefs in order to make up the required numbers of the Kingmakers expected to decide on who becomes the next occupier of the throne.
Chief Odofinyin maintained that immediately Oba Justice Ademola Ajakaye died, the kingmakers formally communicated the news to the state government and installed a Regent in order not to leave a vacuum.
According to him, “after three months, we were supposed to inform the state government officially to kick start the process for the selection of the new king but because the kingmakers were only five in number. We couldn’t do anything. This made the kingmakers to officially write the state government to seek approval and permission to elect warrant chiefs to fill the vacuum existing in the rank of the kingmakers. And the government just sent us letters of approval and permission to elect seven warrant chiefs not too long ago. And we have sent out letters to those involved in the Oketagidigidi Royal Ruling House. To appoint warrant chiefs, each family in the ruling house has to meet in the presence of the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government officials to select them, once the exercise of selecting a new King is concluded, the duties of the warrant chiefs ends. The warrant chiefs are not chiefs”, he said.
Chief Ayodeji Esan informed PMParrot that seven prominent sons of Iyin-Ekiti have expressed their interest to bid for the Oluyin Stool. “The Kingmakers are only waiting to be formally communicated by the Oketagidigidi Royal Ruling House of those seven people who have shown interest”.
He stated that the process of selecting a new king will start from the Royal Ruling House and not with the kingmakers. “Once the state government gives the go ahead, the Ruling House has seven days to present the list of those interested to the kingmakers, while the kingmakers have 14 days to conclude all the processes and communicate to the state government whoever is chosen as the next king of the Iyin Ekiti Kingdom”.
Chief Odofinyin appealed to the seven contestants not to be too desperate in their quest to become the new king of the Kingdom. “I have to make this passionate appeal to the contestants because I have been receiving reports about one or two of the contestants’ desperations to become King by all means. We urge them to allow peace reign in the town because the community has been very peaceful”.
Investigations conducted by PMParrot revealed the names of the seven contestants that are showing interest to contest the throne of Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, among them are Prince Omoyajowo Taiwo Adedoyin, Professor Falodun Sunday Emmanuel, Prince (Dr.) Adebisi Rotimi Owolabi, Prince Adeniyi Ajakaye, Prince Sunday Owolabi and Prince Rotimi Omoyajowo.
We here present a brief profile of some of the top contenders:
PRINCE OMOYAJOWO TAIWO ADEDOYIN
Prince Omoyajowo Taiwo Adedoyin was born to the family of Prince Gabriel Omoyajowo and Late Mrs. Florence Omoyajowo of the ‘Oketagidigidi’ Ruling House of Iyin Ekiti over four decades ago.
Prince Omoyajowo Taiwo Adedoyin started his educational career at the Christ Apostolic Church Primary School, Oke-Ayo in Ile-Ife in the year 1980 and successfully completed it in the year 1986. Thereafter, he attended St. David’s Grammar School at Lagere in Ile-Ife between the year 1987 and 1992 for his Secondary School Education. He gained admission to pursue a Bachelors’ Degree Program in Economics (B.sc) at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife between 1996 and 2001.
Prince Omoyajowo Taiwo Adedoyin later proceeded for his Masters in Business Administration (MBA in General Management Option), degree program in the year 2004 and completed it in the year 2006. In addition, he furthered his educational career and obtained a Masters of Science (M.Sc) in Economics (Development Economics Option) in the year 2015 with a PhD grade. This feat led him to commence a Doctorate Degree Program in Economics which he is due to complete soonest.
Meanwhile, Prince Omoyajowo Taiwo Adedoyin in an interaction with PMParrot expressed his readiness to join the contest for the stool of the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti Kingdom. “As one of the Princes of the Oketagidigidi Ruling House, and since the stool of Oluyin became vacant after the demise of our late Kabiyesi, I considered it imperative to contribute my quota to the growth and development of the ancient town. If I am at the end of the day fortunate to emerge as the next Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti Kingdom, I will pay attention to youth empowerment and the development of the town”.
PROFESSOR FALODUN SUNDAY EMMANUEL
Professor Falodun Sunday Emmanuel was born in Iyin-Ekiti on the 4th of December, 1960 in the Oluyin Compound. He had his primary education at School “A” in Iyin-Ekiti from January 1969 to June 1973, after which he proceeded for his secondary education at the Eyemote Comprehensive High School also in Iyin Ekiti from September 1974 to June 1979. In order to adequately and sufficiently realize his goals and dreams in life, he was determined to further his tertiary education firstly at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Edo State between 1980 and 1984, Federal University of Technology (FUTA) in Akure in Ondo State between 1992 and 1997 and 2000 and 2005.
Professor Falodun Sunday Emmanuel also had to his credit from the academics, a PhD in Communications Physics in the year 2005; and M.Tech, in Communications Physics in the year 1997 and also a B.Sc Hons. in Applied Physics in the year 1984. He is a member of many professional bodies.
He bagged his postgraduate and undergraduate examinership at both the Redeemer’s University, Ede in Osun State and the National Open University of Nigeria in Ado Ekiti in Ekiti State.
While speaking with PMParrot, Professor Falodun said “there is a clear difference in having interest in a position and being born into a family where it is necessary to take responsibilities. Being born into a royal family involves taking responsibilities. As a person, I am a quiet and easy going person. When you are born into my kind of family, it’s a responsibility that overrides my personal interest. When your family has trained you to become somebody in life and when the time comes to give back, at least to represent your family, you cannot allow personal interests to override the calling. My decision to show interest in the Obaship contest of Iyin-Ekiti is more of a calling. I don’t see the position as where to make money or wealth but I see as a call to service; to serve my people. I have come to serve my people with the experience I have gained so far. I have traveled wide and far and interacted with people including those who lecture”.
PRINCE (DR.) ADEBISI ROTIMI OWOLABI (ACIS, MIFF)
Prince (Dr.) Adebisi Rotimi Owolabi is a direct son of the Late Oluyin of Iyin; His Royal Majesty, Oba Julius Adeniyi Owolabi II and a male child of Oketagidigidi. He was born about sixty years ago. His mother, Chief (Olori) Felicia Aduke Owolabi was the first Eyesorun of Iyin Ekiti.
At the end of his primary and secondary education, Prince Adebisi Rotimi Owolabi was admitted into the prestigious University of Ibadan (UI), where he obtained both Bachelor and Master’s Degrees. He was thereafter honored with an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree in General Studies from the Divine Bible College in the year 2001 for his philanthropic gestures.
Prince Rotimi Owolabi is a devoted Christian born into the Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C.) and later consecrated and ordained as both an Elder and a Deacon in the Church since the year 1996.
When contacted by PMParrot to get his reaction on why he wishes to bid for the throne of Oluyin of Iyin, he attached his reasons to his resolve and determination to sacrifice his life for the betterment, unity and development of the Iyin Community as was displayed by his late grandfather, Oba Owolabi who was popularly known as ‘Asoyin po bi eni sogba’ and kept the community as one before he died in the year 1954. He equally revealed that Oba Julius Adeniyi Owolabi II, who succeeded his grandfather, also worked selflessly for the community throughout his reign. He therefore, promised to serve the Iyin Ekiti people more and better than how his forefathers did during their reigns.
According to Prince Adebisi, “I was very close to late Oba Owolabi II during his reign and had a lot of experiences on governance in the town. No sacrifice is therefore too much for the Iyin Community people to appreciate great leaders who had sacrificed everything for the betterment of the town by supporting their Son, Prince Adebisi Rotimi Owolabi as the next Oluyin of Iyin to enable him continue with the developmental projects already started by his forefathers”.
PRINCE SUNDAY ADEBAYO OWOLABI
Prince Sunday Adebayo Owolabi hailed from the Oketagidigidi. He is well over sixty (60) years of age. He is the direct son of Oba Julius Adeniyi Owolabi, the late Oluyin who reigned from 1957 to October 8th, 2004. His mother equally hailed from Iyin-Ekiti in Oketoro Quarters and from a notable family named Otole family of Oketoro.
Giving the details of his education, the Prince explained that he had his primary education at All Saint Primary School in Iyin-Ekiti before he proceeded to St. Georges’ Secondary Modern School also in Iyin Ekiti for his secondary education. He later proceeded to Divisional Teacher’s College at Ikere Ekiti where he obtained a Grade ll Teacher Certificate. He thereafter went to the College of Education in Ikere Ekiti to pursue a program in French and Christian Religion Studies (CRS). After which he was admitted to the then Bendel State University now Delta State. So, at the end of his program at the Delta State University, he became a French graduate. Then, after that, he went for his MBA program and has since completed it but still waiting for the result. He formally retired from active service on the 31st of July, 2013.
According to him, “I want to therefore submit that I, Prince Sunday Adebayo Owolabi is interested in the throne and I have been moving round to meet other game players in respect to this.”
PRINCE DR. BABATUNDE AKINRINADE
Going by the profile of Prince Dr. Babatunde Akinrinade, he is one of the sons of the Oketagidigidi Ruling House of Iyin Ekiti Kingdom. The paternal parents are late Prince Akinrinade and late Olori Fatunmise Akinrinade. His father is late Prince Oba Akinrinade of Oluyin compound, and the mother is late (Mrs.) Cecelia Akinrinade from Ibedoyin Quarters in Iyin Ekiti. Prince Dr. Babatunde Akinrinade attended the All Saint Primary School, Iyin Ekiti between 1974 and 1980. He preceded to Eyemote Comprehensive High School in Iyin Ekiti for his secondary school education between 1980 and 1985. He obtained a Professional Diploma in Management from the Nigerian Institute of Management Information and he became chartered in the year 2005. In his quest for pursuit of further knowledge, Prince Dr. Babatunde Akinrinade proceeded to the United States of America (USA) and graduated with Bachelors of Science in Health Information Management and Management Information Systems from the Franklin University in Ohio. He equally obtained his Master’s in Business Administration focusing on Project Management and Community Development from Devry University, also in Ohio and bagged a Doctor of Business Administration in Project Management from North Central University, Arizona in the United States of America.
While speaking with PMParrot in Ado Ekiti, he said “I have a very keen interest in the development of the ancient town. That is one of the reasons for aspiring to become the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti.”
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran and Segun Olaoye
