By Our Reporters (Royalty & Chieftaincy Desk)
The ancient town of Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State lit up on Wednesday 23 February, 2022 as its new monarch, theOrimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo, Ojuromi VI, received his staff office from the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
Dignitaries from all over the world, sons and daughters of the town as well as their friends and well-wishers graced the occasion, which was beamed live on terrestrial and satellite television channels as well as social media broadcast like of the raced the event.
Presenting the staff off office to the Orimolusi, Governor Abiodun urged him to operate an open-door policy to both royalty and the masses.
Abiodun also enjoined Ijebu-Igbo indigenes and residents to be at peace, even as he charged other princes who contested the throne over the 27 years it was unoccupied to let the past stay in the past and work with Oba Adebajo for the development of Ijebu-Igbo, which he pledged his administration would speed up.
His words: “I know that the new Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo possesses the requisite skillsets, experience, and exposure required to steer the ship of Ijebu-Igbo. Let us, therefore, see today’s ceremony as an opportunity to come together and move Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebuland, and, by extension, the entire state, towards attaining more socio-economic development.
“Kabiyesi, as a father, you are expected to be accessible, receptive, and responsive to the yearnings of your subjects at all times. You are to note Kabiyesi that you should continue to champion all efforts that will enhance peaceful co-existence with other royal fathers within Ijebu-Igbo and its environs in order to justify the mandate and trust reposed in you by Ogun State Government.
“Kabiyesi, by your appointment, you have become a member of the Ijebu Traditional Council and Permanent Member representing Ijebu Traditional Council at the Ogun State Council of Obas. Kabiyesi, I urge you to regard this appointment as a call to greater duty and responsibility. I implore you to extend magnanimity in victory to all and sundry in Ijebu-Igbo and reconcile all contending parties.”
Governor Abiodun seized on the coronation event to address a worrisome upsurge in ritual killings in the state, especially among youth ostensibly obsessed with being wealthy by all means necessary.
He condemned the youth, most of whom are allegedly known as ‘yahoo, yahoo boys’ though the misnomer cuts across gender and age divides, pledging a severe clampdown on the obnoxious phenomenon.
The governor said “I am always traumatised beyond words when I hear of our youth’s involvement in the spate of killings and dismembering of human beings for ritual purposes. I am particularly scandalised these young ones – teenagers – are being fingered as perpetrators of these dastardly acts.
“Let me use this opportunity to solicit the support of our Traditional Rulers, Parents, Teachers, Heads of Various Institutions of Learning, Community leaders, Religious leaders and indeed all of us, to always preach and act as a good moral compass and mentors to our children and youths.
“Money should not be the sole determinant of success. Integrity should count more. But, let me also warn that we shall deal decisively with anyone involved in any heinous crime in accordance with the relevant laws.
“There is no compromise on this. Ogun State is known over the years for being at the vanguard of ‘Omoluabi’ ethos. I wonder when this malady l became the norm!
“Let our elders, parents, and guardians do their own to inculcate the right attitude into their wards to help the moral fibre of our society. We all owe it a duty to stop this scourge by whatever legal means possible. I can assure you that we will fight this menace with everything at our disposal. We will not be identified by this notoriety.
“Our culture frowns at this and we must bring propriety back into the psyche of the children who we will leave the future behind for. For us, we have emplaced security measures in schools and all the villages, hamlets, and towns to ensure zero-tolerance for ritualists. We will trail them, apprehend them, investigate them and make them serve as examples for those harbouring such sinister routes to wealth acquisition.
Although held at a very short notice, the coronation was well attended as the masses of Ijebu Igbo and its dependent principalities turned out in their number to witness the grand event held at the expansive mini-stadium of the Abusi Edumare Academy, Ijebu-Igbo, the famous secondary school built in the late 1960s solely by the late legendary Ijebu-Igbo Business Mogul, Chief S. O. Kuti, alias “Abusi Edumare”.
To commemorate the event, The Dream Daily Newspaper is currently working on a commemorative edition which would celebrate the Orimolusi, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo, Ojuromi VI, the culture and people of Ijebu-Igbo, with a view to projecting them to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and beyond, and particularly aimed at showcasing the economic cum business opportunities available for exploration by both indigenous and foreign direct investors (FDI) in the ancient town.
The commemorative edition would also feature felicitation messages to Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo, Ojuromi VI from the elites, age-grade groups (Regberegbe), corporate organizations, politicians, socio-cultural, educational and religious groups, among others, from of Ijebu-Igbo and beyond.
Below are scenes from the Orimolusi Coronation as supplied by the Palace of Ijebu-Igbo:
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