On Monday, July 25, 2016, the people of Igbogbo town came out enmasse to rejoice with their new Oba, HRM, Oba Semiu Orimadegun Kasali, Emugoriade I, Adeboruwa of Igbogbo like in Ikorodu, when Oba Shotobi was given a staff of office on May 26, 2015, where a large crowd from the community rejoiced with him.
That was when the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami came to officially recognize and present the staff of office to the new king who was a senior state counsel in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
On April 14, when the Adeboruwa kingmakers adopted him as the most preferred candidate for the stool among other contestants from Ija-Olu family, some candidates headed for the court to contest the nomination. However, on June 22, 2016, the State government, during its Exco meeting, confirmed the emergence of Semiu Kasali as the authentic Oba of Igbogbo.
As early as 9:00a.m on July 25, numerous visitors, both from within and outside kingdom, were at Igbogbo to witness the historic coronation. Several uniformed men, army officers and policeman were deployed to strategic areas in the town to ensure free flow of both human and vehicular traffic to the venue. As early as 9:30a.m, many dignitaries and guests were already at the Adeboruwa Palace, including traditional rulers, chiefs, Baales and members of the Adeboruwa-in-Council.
Others include religious leaders, state government officials, etc. At exactly 9:55am, Oba Kasali arrived the venue looking majestic in his dark blue Aso-Oke Agbada attire with white cap to match in the company of his two beautiful wives, Olori Sekinat and Olori Kafayat and their children, who were equally looking radiant in their respective outfits.
After a few minutes of moving round the high tables and waving to the crowd, acknowledging greetings and cheers, Oba Kasali and his family settled down on the seats specially reserved for them at the Oba (Dr.) Johnson Fatola pavilion, which accommodated other eminent dignitaries.
The event commenced exactly at 10:00a.m with a traditional prayer by a veteran yoruba Radio presenter, Ifasore Afupe Abofinpa.
While speaking at the event, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by Hon. Folami, expressed joy with the entire people of Igbogbo both home and abroad on the historic occasion. He congratulated the new monarch on the special honour bestowed on him by the people of Igbogbo as the new Oba. The Governor urged the people of Igbogbo to continue to give unalloyed support to the new monarch to enable him safeguard the sanity of the sacred and highly revered institution.
Governor Ambode also enjoined Oba Kasali to be a rallying point for the maintenance of communal peace and social development irrespective of religion or tribe. He used the occasion to reiterate his administration’s resolve to run an inclusive government with the communities and grassroots as springboard for social and economic development.
For this reason, he appealed to the elders, youths and the entire residents of Igbogbo and other communities in the state to take ownership of all infrastructure provided by the government for the betterment of their respective communities.
Ambode told them to be more responsive to their civic responsibilities by paying their taxes regularly to enable his government sustain the social economic growth and change being witnessed currently in the state.
The Governor told the traditional rulers and community development associations in the various communities to ensure that they secure their environment to prevent the menace of land-grabbing, kidnapping and other vices to promote peaceful co-existence.
In concluding his address, he prayed that God should bless the reign of the new Adeboruwa and guide him right in the discharge of his royal and traditional duties so that peace, tranquility and progress would reign supreme in his domain.
During his acceptance speech, Oba Kasali expressed his profound gratitude to Governor Ambode and the entire state cabinet, Adeboruwa Kingmakers, Adeboruwa Ruling House in Igbogbo, Lagos State council of Obas and chiefs, led by Oba Akiolu, for the support and trust reposed in him to ascend the throne.
He described his ascension to the throne as a turning point in the affairs of Igbogbo kingdom and Ikorodu division in general. Oba Kasali then pledged to operate an open-door –policy, where everyone shall have the opportunity to contribute his or her quota to the affairs and development of Igbogbo.
According to him, his plan was to use his reign to rebrand Igbogbo kingdom, to facilitate economic development, encourage cultural rebirth, improve traditional status propagate and maximize the tourism potentials as well as harness the human and material resources of the town for the benefit of all.
The new Oba also appreciated his co-contestants to the stool for their spirit of sportsmanship and appealed to them and other ruling houses still contesting his emergence to see his ascension as one destined by God. He also told them to avoid violence and other acts capable of plunging Igbogbo back into the dark periods of 1929 and 1990s. Oba Kasali craved their understanding and support in moving the town forward and promised to defend their rights to seek justice whenever they feel aggrieved.
Earlier on, the permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of local government and chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Jafar Babatunde Sanuth in his welcome address explained that the choice of Oba Kasali for the Adeboruwa stool was approved by Lagos state government.
He said that was after proper confirmation was gotten that his selection by the Adeboruwa kingmakers went through due process and obtained the nod of the local government. He urged the people of Igbogbo to support and cooperate with the new Oba to move the town forward. The permanent secretary charged the monarch to use his position to engender peaceful co-existence and further development of Igbogbo.
Mr. Sanuth also revealed that the state government was considering the inclusion of Oshibokuren royal house as one of the ruling houses in Igbogbo. He assured that the government would get across to the family on its decision over the matter.
The event also featured impressive Gbedu performances by the Lagos State Arts and Culture Dance Troupe and Abosan Traditional music group as well as an ‘Ewi’ recitation by Ifasore Afupe Abofinpa in honour of the new Adeboruwa.
The peak of the event was the presentations of the staff of office and the instruments of appointment to Oba Kasali by the Governor’s representative amidst loud ovation from the huge crowd after which he was decorated with beads, crown and royal walking stick by an Adeboruwa palace Chief.
By 11:30am, the event was brought to a close with a vote of thanks by Yeye Bolanle Bashorun, the Sole Administrator of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA after which the new Oba and his family once again moved round to thank the guests and had photograph session with them.
Meanwhile, in a brief interview with Oriwu Sun after the event, Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, Asiwaju of Igbogbo and former secretary to the Lagos State government, expressed joy over the peaceful ascension of a new King in Igbogbo. He described the new monarch as one who has a rich experience to guide and direct the affairs of Igbogbo based on his background as a lawyer with twenty years of experience.
Chief Bashorun, however, implored the people of Igbogbo to put aside any rancor over the emergency of Oba Kasali and join hands with him to move the town to the next level.
While also speaking, Chief Tajudeen Onasanya, Odofin of Igbogbo, described Oba Kasali as a good leader with a good background, who has been under the radar of the Adeboruwa kingmakers since he was a youth. He expressed confidence that his reign would witness tremendous peace and development. He urged the people of Igbogbo to support and cooperate with the monarch to make his reign a huge success.
However, in a related development, the new Oba entered the Ipebi (a place of seclution) on Tuesday July 26, 2016, in fulfilment of the traditional rites required of a Yoruba Oba, where he will begin three months of isolation.
Here, he is expected to go through both traditional and cultural training while performing several rituals and offering sacrifices to appease the gods of the land and his ancestors for a successful reign.
The journey into Ipebi started in the early hours of that day and his first port of call was the Osugbo cult, which is the chamber of the highest traditional authority in Igbogbo. It combines the executive, legislative and judiciary powers.
The new monarch emerged from the Osugbo cult in company of the leaders of the cult to the sound of Gbedu drum (Royal Drum) at 9:02am and proceeded to the Adeboruwa palace. From here, he was led to the Orisa-Oja shrine and other traditional points in the town. He passed through Itun-Abosan, Awolowo way, Meri Road, Itunmolaru, Oba Omolaja Ogunlewe way and his Royal family compound before arriving at Ipebi around 10:00am in company of the Osugbo leaders, traditional Chiefs and a large crowd of Igbogbo people, who had all turned out to drum support for the new Adeboruwa.
Among the dignitaries that attended the presentation of staff of office to the new Adeboruwa of Igbogbo were, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Ayangbure of Ikorodu, and his wife; Oba Richard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibesheland; Oba Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin; Oba Ajibade Agoro, Ranodu of Imota; Chief Solanke, Lisa of Igbogbo; Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Chief B.O. Benson; Hon. S. O. B Agunbiade.
Other were, Chief (Mrs.) Adebimpe Akinsola, Special Adviser on Arts and Culture; Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, member Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikorodu constituency II; Chief Nosirudeen Oyetade Igu, Olootu Ijaolu Ruling house; Chief Ayodele Elesho; Chief Kaoli Olusanya; Chief Monzor Olowosago, publisher of Oriwu Sun; Sheikh Yahya Osoala, Chief Imam, Oriwu Central mosques, Sheikh Andu Tanimoshe; Chief Imam of Igbogbo; Hon. Gbenga Basanya, former chairman of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Hon. Rotimi Ogunleye, Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives.
