Barring any unforeseen circumstance, the ancient town of Odo-Nla in lkorodu may soon crown an Oba to occupy the Fuwagbade stool, which has remained vacant for several decades.
Oriwu Sun gathered that six qualified candidates from the Raselu and Ogbodo branches of the Odeyemi Ofiran Ruling House of Odo-Nla Kingdom have already been thoroughly screened orally and in writing by the nine-member screening committee after they had met all the requirements set up by the Executive Committee of the royal family.
While the final selection process is said to be in top gear and announcement of the Oba-elect is expected soon, members of all the three branches of the Ruling House, on Thursday, December 17, 2021, gathered at the lkorodu residence of their head (Olootu), Otunba (Asiwaju) David Afolabi Ekiyoyo, AIWM, DCOI, to present certificates of participation to the six participants/candidates in the race for the Fuwagbade stool. The event was organised to commend the candidates for showing interest in the Obaship race and for their financial and time commitments to the cause.
While four of the candidates were physically present at the award event, two of them sent representatives to stand in for them. The six candidates were – Prince Ademoritan Adeyemi, Prince Dawodu Olusoji, Prince Kazeem Benson, Prince Shakirudeen Balogun Omobo, Prince Olusoga Elias Adeyemi Olowolekomoh and Prince Adesegun Adeyemi Akinbiyi Ogunkoya. Prior to the presentation of Certificate of Participation to the candidates, Otunba Ekiyoyo, delivering his speech, said that the quest to install an Oba in Odo-Nla started after the demise of the first Oba and progenitor of Odo-Nla, Prince Odeyemi Ofiran, who was crowned in the 16th century by Oba Mokololowa Ajuwakale, the 16th Awujale of ljede Ode.
He stated that various attempts had been made since then by the three branches of the Ruling House (Raselu, Ogbodo and Upenyenwa) to resuscitate the Obaship but to no avail.
Otunba Ekiyoyo, however, disclosed that after his emergence as the Head (Olotu) of Odeyemi Ofinran Royal Family of Odo-Nla, he constituted the Executive and Elders Committee for regular meetings and embarked on consultations on how to move Odo-Nla forward.
He said that the Committee later decided to throw the contest for the Obaship open between the Ogbodo and Raselu branches of the Ruling House, a situation he said open flood gates of contestants from both royal families to the surprise of the entire Odo-Nla community.
According to him, after thorough screening (both orally and written) of all the contestants by the nine-member screening committee, six qualified candidates (four from Raselu and two from Ogbodo) were found to have met all the requirements for the vacant throne.
Otunba Ekiyoyo stated that the community sought divine intervention through traditional, Islamic and Christian means during the process of selecting the right choice among the final six candidates.
Meanwhile, Otunba Ekiyoyo, speaking with Oriwu Sun at the event, commended all the six candidates that participated in the Obaship process, stating that their financial contributions hugely enhanced the smooth conduct of the process. He, however, said that only one of them will emerge as the Oba and urged others to see themselves as winners as well and also support the eventual winner for the progress of Odo-Nla Kingdom. While corroborating Otunba Ekiyoyo’s statements, some members of the family, who also spoke during the event, also lauded the candidates for their interest in the Fuwagbade stool and for their time and financial sacrifices. They, however, urged them to accept the outcome of the selection process and continue to work towards the development and progress of the Odo-Nla town.