The ancient city of Ile-Ife witnessed another historic moment on Saturday as the Arole Oduduwa, Olofin Adimula, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, crowned 20 new Obas at the Palace of Oodua.
According to Director, Media & Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Ile- Ife, Otunba Moses Olafare among those crowned were His Royal Highness, HRH, Oba Adegoke Owojori, the Obajio of Moore, Ife Kingdom, HRH Oba Olatunde Owole Erinle, the Olu of Erinle Town, Ife Kingdom, and HRH Oba Kehinde Adeyinka Adetoro, the Olu of Awoyaya Town, Ife Kingdom. They were joined by HRH Oba Adegbaju Azee, the Olu of Ifeparapo Town, Ife Kingdom, HRH Oba Adedunni Gbadegesin, the Olu of Onida Town, Ife Kingdom, and HRH Oba Gbade Agboola, the Olu of Irewole Town, Ife Kingdom.
Others include HRH Oba Adebamiji Adeniyi Habedeen, the Olu of Onimon Town, Ife Kingdom, HRH Oba Abdul Wasiu Hassan, the Olu of Alaseyori Town, Ife Kingdom, HRH Oba (Dr.) Gbadegesin Elubode, the Olu of Obagibile Town, Ife Kingdom, as well as HRH Oba Oladipo Olayinka Fasesin, the Olu of Famia Town, Ife Kingdom, and HRH Oba Akinola John Adebayo Fadoyin, the Olu of Kajola Obalara Town, Ife Kingdom.
The list also features HRH Oba Akeem Ogungbade, the Olu of Elefon-Obagibile Olofin Town, Ife Kingdom, HRH Oba Awojobi Lateef Olawale, the Loja of Oke-Owena, Ife Kingdom, HRH Oba Mayowa Awosope, the Olu of Ayedire Town, Ife Kingdom, and HRH Oba Fatai Abass Adeyini, the Olu of Aye-Arode Town, Ife Kingdom.
Additionally, HRH Oba Bolanle Azeez Odebola, the Olu of Asarogun Town, Ife Kingdom, HRH Oba Olufemi Olajide Omidirepo, the Olu-Oke of Oke-Ora, Iranje Town, Ife Kingdom, and HRH Oba Gbenga Adewole Ogunleye, the Olu of Abeji Town, Ife Kingdom, were installed.
Rounding up the coronation were HRH Oba Adegoke Olafare Arilewola, the Olu of Idu Ladare Town, Ife Kingdom, and HRH Oba Afeez Iyiola Akinyele, the Olu of Erinje Town, Ife Kingdom.
While addressing the gathering, Ooni Ogunwusi charged the new Obas to see their crowns as symbols of responsibility and service to their people, rather than an avenue for personal gain.
He urged them to uphold peace, promote unity, and work together to foster development across their respective domains.
Speaking also, the Lowa Adimula of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Adekola Adesiyan, advised the newly crowned monarchs to rule with wisdom, humility, and fairness, stressing that their emergence was a call to service and not a contest for supremacy.
Corroborating, His Royal Majesty, Oba Idowu Olaniyi Adediwura, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, urged the new monarchs to maintain loyalty to the source, Ile-Ife, while contributing to the cultural and socio-economic progress of their communities.
