Traditionalists in Ikorodu have continued to demonstrate their unalloyed love and support for Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Ayangbure of Ikorodu, as they held a procession and prayer session in commemoration of the sixth year anniversary of the monarch’s coronation ceremony.
The well-loved and celebrated Oba was crowned traditionally by the traditionalists with the beaded traditional crown as Ayangbure of Ikorodu and supreme head of the traditional institution of the Ikorodu Kingdom, at the renovated ancient Oloja (Ayangbure) palace located within Ita Efunlase (Ajina Square) on August 2, 2015, amidst rich cultural displays and pageantry.
Although the corronation anniversary, which has become an annual event for the Oba, has been witnessing low key celebration since last year due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, nevertheless, the traditionalists, under the aegis of the Association of African Traditional Religion Practitioners of Nigeria (ATTREN), chose to mark the anniversary as way of identifying with the monarch on the auspicious occasion.
To kick-start the celebration, hundreds of the traditionalists from different sects and groups, decked in their traditional white regalia, which signifies purity, peace and harmony, embarked on a marathon procession in the early hours of the day as they moved through major streets to offer rites and prayers for the sustenance of the peace, progress and development, which Ikorodu town has been witnessing since the enthronement of Oba Shotobi.
The procession train later berthed at the Ayangbure Palace, where different sects and groups of the traditionalists took turns to congratulate Oba Shotobi and offer prayers for him.
The prayer session was cordinated by the Apena of Ikorodu, Chief Kareem Ore.
Several traditional Chiefs, members of the Lasunwon Ruling House (Oba Shotobi’s Ruling House) and guests were also on ground to rejoice with the Oba Shotobi.
Aside the prayer session, different masquerades also engaged in several cultural displays, which showcased the beauty and richness of lkorodu traditions and cultural heritage.
First to perform was the Igunnuko (a tall masquerade covered in colourful attire and which can descend to any level and can also stand tall) group that gave an impressive display to the admiration of Oba Shotobi and his guests. The fantastic performance by the Igunnukos made the royal father and those with him sprayed them naira notes in appreciation of their rich cultural performance.
Egungun masquerades took over from Igunnukos and put up another round of cultural and musical displays, which threw the palace atmosphere into great ecstasy as the Ikorodu indigenes in attendance reveled in their rich cultural values.
Meboi masquerade, which is built in canoe form and which traditionally hails from Itunmoja area of Ikorodu, took the cultural performance to another level with an organized and beautiful display. Their performance was a beautiful blend of good traditional songs, which the entire gathering sang along with the Meboi practitioners while the deft and swift moves of the masquerade itself, which were in harmony with the beat and songs, left the the monarch, his guests and the crowd in utter awe.
There were also performances by Asa (man on the stilt sticks), Turuku (a masquerade covered with palm fronts) and Apepe traditional music group.
Meanwhile, Oba Shotobi, who was well pleased with the show of love by the traditional institution in Ikorodu, gave thanks to God and his ancestors for successfully marking its sixth year crowning anniversary and prayed for many more years of success on the throne.
He also thanked his chiefs and the entire Ikorodu people for their support and acceptance while also appreciating the Lagos State Government for its roles in making his reign “I thank my entire people for standing by me. We never thought that the anniversary would be elaborated like this but we cannot jettison our traditional institution and values”, Oba Shotobi said.
“I thank you for sharing your love and kindness with the royal family with this Woro rally round Ikorodu before converging here.”
“I am always happy to see our traditional practitioners in full regalia with vigour and great enthusiasm for what they are doing. Thank you”, Oba Shotobi said while addressing traditionalists that converged to celebrate with him after their prayers and performances.
Also, some chieftains of Ikorodu have described Oba Shotobi’s reign as a historic turning point in the development of Ikorodu while speaking with Oriwu Sun at the Ayangbure palace during the event.
Chief Wasiu Adekunle Layembi Oyenuga, the Olootu Omoba Lasunwon, the royal family that produced Oba Shotobi, while describing the monarch’s reign as fascinating, also thanked the people of Ikorodu for their support for the palace.
“The six years have been very fascinating. I thank the people of Ikorodu for supporting our Oba in the last years”, Olootu Lasunwon said.
“He has done much for the Ikorodu community. There is no regret at all about his reign.”
“I will continue to appeal to the people of Ikorodu to continue to give him support all through his reign.”
“I appeal to people to always come directly to him to make any complaint or observation or contact those of us that are his ‘Ministers’ and they are assured that such would be attended to.”
“His reign has been peaceful and our family is proud of him for not letting us down”, he said.
The Otunba Ekuewu of Ikorodu Kingdom, Otunba Olugbenga Ajenise-Kuti, said that there has been progress because the monarch is a leader with vision and has dedicated subjects that have been assisting him in executing the vision.
“The last six years have been very fantastic. We could see progress going on here and there. When you have a leader with a vision and determination, administration will just be like a chess game with things just falling into places”, Otunba Ajenise-Kuti said.
“We have a leader with a vision and he’s being supported by faithful, diligent and loyal supporters.”
“So far, so good, we have made a lot of progress in Ikorodu but still looking for more. According to Kabiyesi’s vision, you will see that Ikorodu will be London in Nigeria very soon”, he said.
To Chief Olatunji Joseph Aluko, the Baale of Owutu, the emergence of Oba Shotobi as the Ayangbure of Ikorodu is a turning point for Ikorodu.
“The emergence of Kabiyesi as our Oba in Ikorodu is a turning point”, Baale Aluko said.
“I was born and bred in Ikorodu and spent my early years in Ikorodu too and as a result, l am fully aware of happenings during the tenure of past Obas, but this era is a turning point in the history of Ikorodu.”
“Talking about development, it has been marvelous. Our Kabiyesi acts as if he has been on the throne for the past 20 years. The experience we have been having cannot be quantified.”
“He is a blessing from God that produced him as the number one citizen of this kingdom”, he said.
Prince Adegboyega Odofin, the Secretary, Lasunwon Ruling House, speaking with Oriwu Sun, said that Ikorodu Kingdom has been moving forward since Oba Shotobi ascended the throne of his ancestors.
He also said that the monarch has been ensuring that those that he conferred traditional titles upon are people that are capable of assisting him in achieving his vision for Ikorodu.
“Ikorodu has been moving forward and not backward in the last six years of his reign. There have been many state projects executed across Ikorodu division and many are still under construction while many are still going to be embarked upon.”
“There has been development at Ita-Elewa Youth Centre and also at the General Hospital, Ikorodu. There is also Rice Mill in Imota, the newly constructed Itamaga – Ijede road, as well as the ongoing Igbogbo and Agric roads. Alaiyeluwa played major roles in bringing about these projects.”
“As a learned Oba, he has been ensuring that those conferred with titles are people of impeccable characters and those that are capable of assisting him in moving Ikorodu forward. Among them are the Odofin of Ikorodu, Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya and others.”
“Where we are now (the Ayangbure palace extension building) was built within the three years of Oba Shotobi’s ascension to the throne”, he added.