…Obasanjo, Ooni, Alaafin, others hail monarch
By Daud Olatunji
EMINENT Nigerians including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and other dignitaries converged in Ogun State to witness the presentation of staff of office to the new Olota of Ota, Oba Abdukabir Adeyemi Obalanlege.
•Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State presenting the staff of office to the new Olota of Ota, Oba Abdukabir Adeyemi Obalanlege.
Oba Obalanlege, a journalist and a teacher of mass Communication, emerged the 20th Olota of Ota following his selection by the kingmakers from the 22 contestants.
Amidst glamour and glitz, the new Olota officially received the staff and instrument of office from Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.
The ceremony was held at the open field of Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive College, Iganmode, Ota.
Prior to the ceremony, the new Olota had made solidarity visits to the Ooni, Alaafin and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo who all felt excited with his emergence and pledged support for his reign.
On May 31, 2016, the state government announced the demise of Olota of Ota, in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Oba Moshood Alani Oyede, who reportedly passed on Thursday, May 26.
On 16th November 2017, the Ogun state government gave December as a deadline for the selection process of Olota of Ota in Ado/Ota Local Government Area among bonafide candidates of Ijemo/Isolosi Ruling House.
The monarch is a UK based Journalist and was a Senior Lecturer at the Crescent University, Abeokuta emerged the 20th Olota of Ota.
Dr. Yemi Obalanlege, ýwas born in Mushin, Lagos State on August 28, 1966. His parents were Prince Hassan Taiwo Obalanlege of Ijemo Compound and Mrs. Mutiat Afolake Obalanlege (Nee Anjorin) of Isoloshi Compound, Ota.
He was elected by an open ballot system held at the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Secretariat by five kingmakers led by the Ekerin of Ota, High Chief Bamgboye Osunlabu.
It was gathered that Oba polled five votes out of the possible five to emerge against Prince Gbolagade Akinboyede of Isoloshi ruling house, his brother, Barrister Abiodun Akinboyede and Barrister Oluwatoyin Adeyanju.
The election was supervised by the Secretary to the Local Government, Mr. Adewale Dada with heavy security presence.
Beware of sycophants, Obasanjo urges monarch
Obasanjo in his remarks advised the monarch to beware of sycophants and not to engage in discrimination between indigenes and non-indigenes of Ota.
He also charged him to use his experience to further the development of the town.
While presenting the staff of office, Governor Amosun, told the monarch to regard his appointment as a call to serve.
He also urged him to concentrate on the task of accelerating the pace of socio-economic development in Aworiland.
“Be sure to extend hands of love and fellowship to all those who contested the stool with you and deploy your vast managerial experience to effect speedy reconciliation amongst the people”, Amosun said.
My plans for Ota—Oba Obalanlege
In his acceptance speech, the monarch promised to work to consolidate on the gains made by the past rulers of the town.
Oba Obalanlege said: “One of the main reasons I joined the Olota race is to liberate my people. Despite Ota being an industrial hub of Nigeria, youths in Ota are yet to benefit from it. Other people come from outside Ota and get the jobs in these industries. We do not quarrel with this.
“I have started taking steps by talking to the Chief Executive Officers of these companies on the need for them to employ Ota youths.”