Akiolu... Lagos new Kabiyesi
THE waiting has at last come to an end, and Iga Iduganran, the official residence of the Oba of Lagos, now has a new occupant. Befitting the exalted throne, he now occupies, a gathering of the rich and powerful in Lagos State were on hand Saturday to formally welcome Kabiyesi Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, the 24th Oba of Lagos to the Iga Idunganran palace.

The Lagos State Governor, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his deputy, Olufemi Pedro both accompanied by their wives, and resplendently dressed in native attire led the list of dignitaries.
There were also former Lagos State governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Chief Okoya Thomas and Chief Razak Okoya, among others.

Prior to Kabiyesi's arrival the Iga Idungaran had turned festive as different groups waiting for the king shared goodwill with Tinubu, showering encomiums on him, which he ebulliently acknowledged.
There was solemn grandeur too, as typified by the traditional white caps chiefs, who filed in to await the oba dressed in their special regalia and giving their unique clenched-fist greeting. Then the entry of the new king, who, preceeded by the wives of the immediate past king, the late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, was led into Iga Idungaran from where he emerged to acknowledge the presence of the state governor, Bola Tinubu.

Then followed the prayers for a long, peaceful and prosperous reign of the new monarch, and for the continued social and economic development of Lagos State. The first prayer as well as exhortation was said by the Eletu Odibo, the traditional prime minister, and Chief Tajudeen Agboola. The governor also prayed for the new king, for Lagosians and the state even as he assured the monarch of his government's support.
It was also a time for the governor to call on Lagosians to rally round the new king, as he observed that Akiolu was indeed king by the peoples' will.

While the selection of the new oba has not been without some controversy, pronouncements of support have been pouring in from different quarters. Reacting to the choice of the new oba of Lagos, a community leader in Lagos Island, Chief Moruf Alade, said that Akiolu happened to be the best among the lots who were contesting for the revered stool. According to Alade, what is expected of the new oba is how to use his wealth of experience in uniting all the contestants, and for him to carry along with him divergent voices.
Also, another top class chief, the Olorogun Adodo of Lagos, Teslim Jinaku-Eko, expressed satisfaction with the selection of Akiolu as the new oba.

In a statement of appeal to the other contestants, he appealed for calm, and co-operation with the new oba.
He said: "All of them are qualified. They are eligible because they belong to the royal family. But we can appoint only one of them as the oba at a particular time." It would be recalled that the former Assistant Inspector General of Police (IGP) was selected among other 11 contestants who submitted their nomination papers, including the Olori Omo Oba, Adekunle L. Ojora, Manseur Akinola Williams, Ademuyiwa Dosunmu, Tajudeen Olusi, and Rasheed Module. Others are Kola Balogun Eshinlokun, Aina Egbe, Adetuke Eko Gbosebi Kwam Alade Zaidi, Samony and Adebiyi Shaduwa.

The contenders were selected from the various branches of the two ruling houses - the Akinsemoyin and Ologun Kutere.

Mourning in Isolo as Goloba, the Osolo of Isolo dies

By mid-day on Saturday, only the most senior chiefs in the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Yekini Ayinde Goloba's council knew something was wrong in the palace. The monarch had been ill for sometime and was taken to the Lagos General Hospital for treatment.

There were no glaringly obvious signs of grief and mourning in the Oshodi-Isolo area, but from early Sunday morning, the hitherto peaceful Isolo had become tense on hearing the news of the death of the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Yekini Goloba. According to Chief Alabi Goloba, the Lagos State government had instructed representatives of the Okota ruling family, from which the late ruler emerged, representatives of the other ruling families, two members of the Council of Chiefs and the Oshodi-Isolo Local Council Chieftaincy Committee to work out modalities for the burial. The Akogun said traditional funeral rites had been going on as well as plans to ensure a hitch-free burial for the late ruler.

The late Osolo of Isolo, was born in 1932 to the late Chief Yekini Goloba and Nimota. The young Yekini attended St. Mathias Primary School and Ansar-Ud-Deen College. He worked with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the then Mushin District Council before travelling abroad in 1968 to read Mechanical Engineering. He returned in1977 and worked at Elizade Motors before he set up, Ray Motors Mechanical Workshop at Papa Ajao, Mushin. In 1987, he was called upon to ascend the throne and was installed the Osolo of Isolo on Saturday, September 10, 1988.

Survived by three wives, his aged mother, brothers, sisters, children and great grandchildren, the late Oba, according to his brother will be remembered for, among other things, the peace and development efforts he brought to the Oshodi-Isolo area, the laying of the foundation stone for the Oba's palace, the post office project, the introduction of yearly Osolo Day festival and the upgrading of some Chieftaincy title holders to the first grade hierarchy, in Lagos State.

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Born on June 30, 1911, Oba Oyekan was educated at Methodist Boys' High School, Lagos and Kings' College, Lagos, before he moved to the School of Pharmacy, from where he qualified as a pharmacist in 1933. It was this profession he was practising up till 1965, when he ascended the throne to become the 18th monarch of Lagos.

Oba Oyekan follows a path established by his ancestors in Lagos. Before him, there had been 17 other obas and like any other ruling house the world over, there had been inter and intra-family feuds prior to his ascension. And of the 17 obas that reigned before him, only few are remembered for their roles in the history of Lagos. Oba Ado, who ruled from about 1630 to 1669, was the first Oba of Lagos.
It was Oba Ado who established the seat of the oba on Lagos Island. The Oju Egun Oba Ado Shrine at Iga Idunganran (official residence of the Oba) and a place named Ita Ado in the Isale Eko area of the Island are monuments that have been used to immortalise this pioneer royal father.
The other monarch, whose reign was significant was Oba Eshugbayi, who took over in 1900 after the death of Oba Oyekan I. His reign was significant not so much because of any landmark achievement but because of the conflicts that were witnessed. In addition, it was during his reign that the obnoxious water rate agitation of 1908 was imposed. It was an issue that united the people against the British. It is significant to note that it was from agitation against the water rate that acclaimed father of Nigerian nationalism, Herbert Macaulay, commenced his nationalist activities. On account of Macaulay's very close association with Oba Eshugbayi, the Oba suffered so much victimisation in the hands of the British.

Oba Oyekan II is from the lineage of Docemo. Just as his fore-father, Akintoye fought with Kosoko for the throne, he himself had to struggle with Oba Adeniji Adele II, who ascended the throne in 1949. It was a titanic battle that was fought at the courts both in Nigeria and up to the Privy Council in England and involved, though remotely, the two dominant parties in the south at the time, the Action Group (AG) and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). Adeniji Adele had the support of AG while the NCNC threw its weight behind Oyekan II. Adeniji Adele, however, had his way up to 1965 when he died but his death paved the way for Oyekan to realise his dream of being the Oba of Lagos on March 11 that year. He is the grand-son of the late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan I, the 12th Oba of Lagos, who ruled from 1885 to 1900.

And interestingly, Oba Oyekan has been acting as father to all. In the 36 years that he has been in the saddle, he has shown that traditional institution can be used to achieve positive ends. Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II is highly esteemed by his people for the dignified bearing he has brought upon the Lagos monarchy over the years.