The ancient town of Ijebu Igbo, headquarters of the Ijebu North Local Government in Ogun State now has a new paramount ruler-elect in the person of Prince Lawrence Jaiyeoba Tanimowo Adebajo as the next Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo.

 Prince Adebajo was the choice, by 6-4 votes with an apparent abstention vote, of the 11 warrant chiefs appointed by the state government to give effect to a Supreme Court judgment delivered last year, which brought the 27-year legal fireworks over the Orimolusi throne to a definitive close, a fight which started from an Ijebu Igbo High Court, moved to the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division and eventually to the Supreme Court in 2008.

  The warrant chiefs, who chose the Orimolusi-elect on Tuesday 4 January 2022, were made up of the crème de la crème of Ijebu Igbo indigenes, including six professors. They are: Mr. Ademola Adedeji (Chairman), Prof. Yinka Balogun, Prof. Kola Balogun, Prof. Layi Ogunkoya, Chief Ademola Okusanya, Chief P.O. Omotara, Prof. Bisi Ogunfowora, Mr. Olusegun Olusanya, Prof. B. Obisesan, Prof. Ayo Ogunye and Mr. Fatai Bolujo (Secretary).  

The Orimolusi –Elect, 69, is a retired public servant who, according to sources, worked with the Lagos State Civil Service. He trumped Prince Soliu Sadiku in the contest at the first ballot of only the male-line princes of the Ojuromi Ruling House of Ijebu Igbo in a two-way contest ordered by the Supreme Court, which affirmed the verdict of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan. The Court of Appeal had ruled that Prince Sadiku had been unlawfully shortchanged in a 1996 contest for the Orimolusi throne won by a female-line Prince of the Ojuromi Family, Olawale Kazeem – the son of famous industrialist, socialite and Ijebu High Chief, Alhaji Olarenrawaju Kazeem of the SHOKAS Lace fame.

Both the traditional and modern rites of installation of the Orimolusi are expected to commence immediately following the presentation of the certificate of election to Prince Adebajo by the warrant chiefs in the presence of Ijebu North Local Government officials and other state apparatchiks. The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, is expected to play a prominent role in these rites as the sovereign of the Ijebu People.

  Meanwhile, the choice of Prince Adebajo as the Orimolusi appears to enjoy a broad acceptance by the Ijebu Igbo people home and abroad going by the avalanche of congratulatory messages from all segments of Ijebu Igbo society and beyond which have continued to pour in for the Orimolusi-elect since the news of his pick broke. Some of the prominent Ijebu Igbo indigenes who have congratulated the Orimolusi-Elect include former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Senator Adegbenga Sefiu Kaka, ex- Commissioner of Health in the state, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, President, Congress of Ijebu Igbo Community (CIC), Chief Oludayo Oluyemi, Otunba ‘Bayo Ogunbanjo, Rev. Sola Ogunbanjo, Mr. Balogun Wale, Mr. Adeyemi Adeoye, Dr. Thomas Olaide Osinowo, Dr. Bayo Shittu, Prince Clement Adeoye, Mr. Wale Ajomale and Dr. Ibikunle Salami. Others are a distiller of distinction who brews the famous Ogidiga brand, Chief Ademola Oluwadamilare Okufuwa, Prince Adewale Victor Osibowale, Secretary, Ojuromi Ruling House, Misbahuddeen, Prince Taiwo Adeoluwa Kazeem,  Prince  Patrick Durodola Saliu and Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, The Dream Daily Group of Newspapers, Abuja, Osigbesan Sultan Luqman Osinowo.

 Many Ijebu Igbo indigenes in the Diaspora have also hailed the emergence of the new Orimolusi, including US-based medical practitioner, Dr. Tele Ekundayo, Dr. Bosun Ogundipe, a United Kingdom-based businessman, Chief Ola Busari.

  Senator Kaka who is from Oke Sopen, Ijebu Igbo wrote: “Congratulations to all! In anticipation of official announcements, we heartily rejoice with the in-coming Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Prince Lawrence Adebajo, the Ogun State Government, HRM, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, all the WCs and citizens of Ijebu-Igbo Kingdom home and diaspora for the groundbreaking success recorded today. May the success be permanent and full of growth and developmental benefits.”

 Touching on the processes which produced the Orimolusi after 27 acrimonious years, Dr. Ipaye, who is from Oke Agbo, Ijebu Igbo observed: “It is true that the outcome of this event is full of lessons for everyone including the Warrant Chiefs. The 6-4 votes are loud to teach all the necessary lessons.

 “The entire 10 votes belonged to these two male line princes who had resolved to work together as a team since 1996. Prince Adebajo no doubt as a man of high integrity only heeded the call of this “united family” after the consent of Baba Sadiku.

 “The true story of today and the men God used to bring this victory upon our land would be told at the appropriate time. Let the celebrations continue!”

Dr. Ekundayo who hails from Itun Oloja Lane, Ojowo Ijebu Igbo wrote: “Congratulations, to the finally selected Orimolusi-elect! May he have the wherewithal to give dignity and honour to the administrative stool of the Orimolusi, as well as work assiduously towards the restoration of the paramountcy authority of the stool within the Ijebu-Igbo Kingdom, by entrenching the needed peace, cooperation and unity within/among the royal family components of Ijebu-Igbo Kingdom! Our new Orimolusi will be divinely equipped and empowered to become a stimulating force for the facilitation of the growth and development of Ijebu-Igbo!”

Talking about the sterling character of the new Orimolusi, Mr. Ajomale from Amutebu, Ojowo stated: “A valiant Prince indeed that stood for truth, justice, fairness and enthronement of equity. Bravo.”

 In his reaction to the emergence of the Orimolusi, Osigbesan, who is from Itun Eyinle, Ojowo said: Congratulations to the Orimolusi-Elect and congratulations to all of us from Ijebu Igbo. Let both the traditional and modern rites of installation start immediately. A fundamental, wholesome and total reform of the Orimolusi Chieftaincy Law with a view to forestalling future interregnum of ANY kind is inevitable and must be made paramount by all of Ijebu Igbo. Never shall anything of the last 27 years befall our town again!”

Dr. Salami of Bogije, Atikori said: “Congratulations to all Ijebu Igbo indigenes and thanks to all for the enduring patience of nearly 28 years of royal vacuum that we are joyously anticipating to be officially confirmed and filled In sha Allahu. Our since appreciation to our committee of Elders who had worked tirelessly and wisely to arrive at this zone of success.”

Chief Busari of Atikori Quarters of Ijebu Igbo said: “Hearty Congratulations to all the citizens of Ijebu-Igbo and all the candidates in this travail. At last, God has crowned our efforts with success.  The siege is over. No Victor, No Vanquished. I cannot close without rendering my appreciations to Prof Ayo Ogunye, the Convener and all the Elders who has been working tirelessly behind the screen for years, the undisputed Honourable Warrant Chiefs, the think-tanks, the legal experts, the vocalists among us, the clergies, the Chairman INLG, our journalist Dr Saint (Stephen Adebayo) just to mention a few. May the king’s reign bring peace, joy, love, unity and development to our community. Happy New Year and Happy New King.”

Similarly, Chief Okufuwa wrote: “Wow! The siege is finally over. Ogo ni fun Kristi loke orun (Glory be to Christ on High). Congratulations to every one of us on this great platform; congratulations to all sons and daughters of Ijebu Igbo.”

Dr. Ogundipe of Odobotu wrote: “The gods have spoken and our elders have completed their onerous assignment. Almighty God will make his reign a soothing blessing to all of us in his kingdom. I say Kaabiyesi o to the Orimolusi-elect: His Royal Highness Lawrence Jayeoba Adebajo. Long may you reign sir. Now the reconciliation has begun in earnest.”

  Mr. Abayomi Osokomaiya of Odo Petunji, Ojowo said: “Kaaabiyes o. Congratulations sir. God has perfected His work. May your reign bring back peace and progress that has eluded our kingdom for nearly three decades.”

Mr. Olusegun Ilori whose ancestry cuts across both Igbaire in Oke Sopen Quarters and Oke Agbo Quarters of Ijebu Igbo stated: “To God be the glory, great thing He has done! Congratulations to all sons and daughters of Ijebu Igbo. A new horizon has evolved.”

Secretary, Ojuromi Ruling House, Misbahuddeen, wrote: “Congratulations to all and sundry on the newly appointed Oba Orimolusi HRH Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo. May your reign bring wonderful development to Ijebu Igbo at large.

“Kudos to Prince S.A Sadiku who fought the myriad (of) battles to achieve this great achievement of incorruptible malpractices to let justice prevail accordingly. To the warrant chiefs who peacefully put the right peg into the right hole, you all did a marvelous job. Once again, congratulations to Ijebu Igbo sons and daughters throughout the globe.”

Dr. Osinowo wrote from Ojowo, Ijebu Igbo: “A big Congratulations to the Orimolusi-Elect, Prince Lawrence Adedeji Jaiyeoba Adebajo. May your reign be peaceful and bring the well-deserved development to our Ijebu-Igbo Kingdom. I also congratulate the warrant chiefs for a job well executed.”

  Chief Oluyemi from Atikori stated: “Going further, there must be an understanding to restrain all female lines from contesting for the position of the Oba in the future.”

 Mr. Wale Balogun from Emutebu Ojowo, stated: “Congratulations to all of us. Congratulations to the Kabiyesi-elect. Wonderful God.”

 “I congratulate His Majesty in Waiting. Long may you reign. May your days on the throne of our fathers bring bliss, peace and prosperity to the land of Ijebu Igbo. May you have wisdom in abundance to reign,” said Mr. Deyemi Adeoye from Oke- Agbo.

Also, Mr. Sotunde Solu of Oke Agbo wrote: “I join fellow compatriots to congratulate the Warrant Chiefs, the Oba Elect and entire sons and daughters of Ijebu Igbo for this landmark achievement of breaking the 27years old jinx! To God only be the victory and ours- the manifold blessings. As for the jinx, we say never again! Let Ijebu Igbo rise again and take her rightful position in the comity of foremost Cities in Ogun State. Long live our new Oba, long live Orimolusi Kingdom, long live the great sons and daughters of Ijebu Igbo.”

The youth of Ijebu North Local Government also joined the tributes and congratulatory train. Writing on their behalf to the Orimolusi-Elect, Publicity Secretary, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ijebu North Chapter, Comrade Abolaji Sobowale, stated:

 “On behalf of the teeming youths of Ijebu North Local Government under the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) ably led by Comrade Ogunleye Ismail felicitate with you on your emergence as the Orimolusi-Elect of Ijebu-Igbo.”

  Sobowale “thanked the Almighty God for bringing an end to the long overdue enthronement of a new king” which he described as “a ‘New Year Gift’ for the good sons and daughters of Ijebu-Igbo.”

  Sobowale continued: “The news of your emergence came at the prompt period that the good people of the community have been longing to hear the emergence of a new King since the demise of the former Orimolusi since 1994 which has left the seat vacant for over 27 years.

  “The council also thanked the Warrant Chiefs for their timely and speedy meetings after inauguration on 21st December, 2021. Your roles in salvaging the community from the 27-year interregnum is worth commending.

 “On other note, the Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. ‘Mobolaji Odusanya is highly commended and appreciated for being a factor in actualizing the process of the new Orimolusi.

 “It is our prayer that your emergence will bring forth the desires and wishes of our people to the community. We do hope it is the beginning of a new dawn for Ilu Mi, Ijebu Igbo. Congratulations once again, Your Royal Majesty!”