Glitz, glamour as Akinmoye mounts Orungberuwa of Erinje throne

It was pomp and splendour at Ode-Erinje on Monday, August 19, 2024 when the Ondo State government officially installed His Royal Majesty, Oba Oladele Fredrick Akinmoye (Ebiekuraju IV), as the new Orungberuwa of Erinje Kingdom in Okitipupa Council to the applaud of Ikale leaders, eminent Nigerians from other parts of the country and the mammoth crowd that gathered to witness the ceremony.

Almost two weeks before the event, the atmosphere in Erinje, a popular Ikale community, had been palpably festive with various socio-cultural and religious groups in the town busy perfecting their respective plans to make the ceremony a unique one in the history of the kingdom. Besides, prominent indigenes of the community from within and outside the country had started arriving, alongside their friends and business associates, and making life pleasant for their relatives at different gatherings at their family compounds and quarters, raising their excitement for the event, the date of which was shifted twice due to tight official schedule of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa who was billed to officially present the staff of office and instrument of appointment to Oba Akinmoye, a retired permanent secretary, as the 11th Orungberuwa of Erinje.

As early as 7:00am on Monday, a crowd of Erinje residents and friends of the town from far an near had started mounting at the expansive Sports Ground of the Catholic Primary School, the venue of the event, as more guests thronged the town to be part of the celebration and were welcome with popular Ikale Biripo music provided by the Ugeleji Cultural Group led by Chief Omotayo Emaye, the Arogun of Idepe, Okitipupa. As the ace broadcaster and master of ceremony, Chief Oluwole Akinbo, announced arrival of each traditional ruler, the crowd bust into the chorus of obeisance ‘Kaaabiyesioooo’ while the monarch was led straight to the high table by their aides assisted by the personnel of security agencies, including police, Army and the Amotekun Corps, and members on the Central Planning Committee of the ceremony who were on ground for proper coordination of the programme. The arrival of Oba Akinmoye to the event was tumultuous. It took the security personnel, who were highly civil in their handling of the situation, and the master of ceremony as well as a popular human rights/democracy activist and very active member of the Central Planning Committee, Comrade Olufemi Aduwo Akinbule, time to disperse the crowd even after the new Orungberuwa and his wife, Olori Abiodun Adenike, had taken their seats.

Among the royal fathers at the ceremony were the Abodi of Ikaleland, Oba George Babatunde Faduyile; Jegun of Idepe, Okitipupa, Oba Michael Obatuga; Odogbo of Omi, Oba Olorunsola Akinyelure; Odede of Igboegunrin, Oba (Dr.) P.O Kailejaiye; Ahaba of Ajagba, Oba Thomas Adesayo; Odogun of Igbekebo, Oba Bamidele Dabo; Halu of Ode Aye, Oba Williams Akinlade; Olu of Igodan Lisa, Oba Segun Joseph Adetuwo; Oniju of Iju-Odo, Oba Festus Oyedele Olumoyegun; Odofin of Iju-Oke, Oba Ayo Oguntusin; and Oloto of Igbisin-Oloto, Oba Michael O. Sewo.

Before the arrival of the governor, it was a celebration of respect for the new monarch. In a well coordinated manner, Akinbo called out each family, consisting of males and females, old and young, in Erinje who were excitedly led by their gorgeously dressed heads to dance to the high table and pay obeisance to Oba Akinmoye in a way that established their loyalty to him. Members of some groups, who could not resist the pressure of the Biripo lyrics, took over the stage and danced to the tunes as if they were in a competition, praising Oba Akinmoye in the process. It took the arrival of Governor Aiyedatiwa to stop other people who were eager to do the same from coming out.

After the opening prayer said by the Bishop of the Diocese on the Coast (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Rev. OlaOluwa Oluseyi Pirisola, following the arrival of Governor Aiyedatiwa, the ceremony began officially with the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee for Okitipupa Local Government, Igbekele Akinrinwa, addressing the guests, noting that the Orungberuwa stool had been vacant since the passing of His Royal Highness, Oba Apata Akinlalu in 2016. He urged all sons and daughters of the town to support Oba Akinmoye to move Erinje forward, even as he charged the new monarch to unite the people and ensure peace at all times.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, described the event as the climax of initiatives and actions by the ministry and the Okitipupa Local Government to ensure that the Orungberuwa stool is filled. He said the journey was tortuous but it came to a glorious end. Takuro said the ministry, which has been neutral in all chieftaincy matters, is always ready to midwife the selection, appointment and installation of a new monarch in any community in the state in strict compliance with the due process devoid of any interference whatsoever.

The central point of Takuro’s speech was re-echoed by Governor Aiyedatiwa who in his address elucidated the emergence of Akinmoye as the new monarch thus: “The stool of Orungberuwa of Ode-Erinje became vacant on July 5, 2016 following the demise of Oba Akinlalu. The state government gave approval for the commencement of the selection process for the appointment of a new Orungberuwa in strict compliance with the approved Registered Chieftaincy Declaration. The Registered Chieftaincy Declaration of Ode-Erinje provides for 12 kingmakers out of which 10 were deceased while two are alive. This necessitated the approval for appointment of eight Warrant Chiefs by the State Executive Council on July 27, 2023 to replace the deceased kingmakers.

“After the resolution of all disputes surrounding the selection process, a meeting of the kingmakers was convened on the 7th September, 2023 to carry out the selection of a new Orungberuwa from the two contenders presented by the Ebiekuraju Ruling House namely: Prince Oladele Fredrick Akinmoye and Prince Yemi Olowokandi. Seven out of the 10 kingmakers present unanimously voted for Prince Oladele Fredrick Akinmoye and was consequently declared the Orungberuwa-elect.

“The selection was subsequently approved by the Ondo State Executive Council on July 22, 2024, following its confirmation that the process which culminated in the emergence of Prince Akinmoye as the Orungberuwa was in conformity with the Chieftaincy Declaration of the town and the extant Chief Laws of Ondo State.”

The governor urged the monarch to exercise restraints and caution in the use of the traditional authority and powers, saying the instrument of appointment and staff of office should be employed to strengthen the peace and cohesion of his domain and not to hound or victimise perceived opponents and adversaries.

Other dignitaries at the event include the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Segun Aiyerin; member of the House of Assembly, Christopher Aiyebusiwa; permanent secretaries in the state; Acting Rector, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Pastor Adegun Olorunwa; the Ojan of Erinje, High Chief Aderehinwo Anthony; Iretolu of Erinje, High Chief Olayeye Ayeniyi; Dr. Dapo Iwala; Tpl Jones Lurogho; Chief Abiodun Abele; Sir Jackson Oloyede Akindele; Dr. Ayodeji Adelakun; Barrister Jide Aderehinwo; Mr. Johnson Kuye; Primate Igbayemi Aderehinwo; and the Vicar of St Barnabas’ Anglican Church, Erinje, Ven (Dr.) Kehinde Akinma.

In his speech, Oba Akinmoye told the gathering that similar event was held 75 years ago when Oba Akinlalu was installed as the 10th Orungberuwa of Erinjeland in 1949. He lauded the Regent, Prince Emmanuel Adeoye Ipinsanmi for the smooth administration of the community during the interregnum. He praised his co-contestants for the Orungberuwa stool, noting that their participation is an indication of their interest in the development of Erinje. He solicited their support and advice on how to move the town forward. ‘My people, the time has come for us to be united for the socio-economic development of our land. Irrespective of where we abode for our economic living, Erinjeland remains our home, Oba Akinmoye said.

The new king revealed that he had already initiated measures to boost security of life and property in the community, mitigate the effects of pollution caused by palm oil processing mills located between houses, empower the youth to become self-reliant, and transform Erinje to a tourist town through the development of the popular Aluma and Ere festivals to attract people from far and near, thereby generating revenue for the community. Oba Akinmoye solicited the state government’s assistance in constructing and tarring of street roads in Erinje. He promised to work for peace and progress of his people, Erinjeland, Ikaleland, Ondo State and Nigeria.

The Abodi of Ikaleland, Oba Faduyile, in his remarks on the new Orungberuwa of Erinje, said: “Oba Akinmoye is the choice of the people in view of the crowd at the venue of the coronation. Everybody is happy they chose the best choice to be their Oba. I congratulate Erinje people for having the Oba that they wanted. He should work for peace and bring together all that are aggrieved so that Erinje can prosper after a period of interregnum.”