…as monarch laments 32 years reign without palace
Ooni of Ife, Ọba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Ọba Babatunde Ajayi, Odole-Oodua of Ife, Sir Kesington Adebutu, Former Governor of Ogun State and the current Senator representing OgunEast Senatorial District, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, yesterday, joined other dignitaries to commission the newly built palace of Onirolu of Irolu-Remo Kingdom, Ọba Sikiru Adeyiga in Ikenne council, Ogun State, after 32 years on the throne.
The ultra modern palace which have apartments adjoining each other contains library with historical books on Irolu-Remo, King’s quarter, Queen’s quarters, domestic staff quarters, inner rooms for meetings, Hall with Air condition and CCTV cameras, Big generator all equipped with top-noch facilities, to mention few.
At the event, Apala Maestro, Musiliu Haruna Isola, treated the audience including family, friends, indigene and well wisher with sonorous music, as Chairman, Palace Standing Committee, Col. Dele Oyefuga, Yeyemofin, Barr. Omotola Rotimi, Prince Adekunle Adeyiga, Prince Niyi Oyenusi and Irolu Development Association(IDA) Chairman, Jimmy Akinsanya, expressed joy over the new palace.
Speaking Ooni of Ife, Ọba Ogunwusi, who was represented by the Agbolu of Agbaje Ife, Oba Adekunle Adebowale, prayed that God would grant the 87 years monarch the longevity to conduct activities from his forefathers’ throne in the palace, stressing that the palace would be a place of peace and blessings for the indigene of Irolu-Remo Kingdom.
“Kabiesi Ooni asked me to greet you Onirolu on your new palace, he said he would have come but because he is having his birthday today. He asked me to pray that you will live long to make use of the palace and the people of Irolu-Remo Kingdom will continue to flourish.” he said
The Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Ọba Babatunde Ajayi, congratulated Onirolu for magnificent palace, praying that Ọba Adeyiga would use the palace as long as he reigns, and his successors take over the building to continue rulling the kingdom, calling on the sons and daughters of Irolu-Remo to ensure the sustainability of the new palace.
” pray that you live long on your father’s throne and make use of the palace for long, I thanks all the sons and daughters including the chairman of the palace planning committee for making the palace a thing of reality. Onirolu is a selfless person he has done so much for this land. When a community prayer for for a king they should pray to have a good monarch like Onirolu. And I want the indigene of Irolu-Remo to make sure that they maintain the palace.
The Odole-Oodua of Ife, Sir Adebutu, who celebrated with Onirolu on the new palace described him as “selfless king” whose efforts laid the foundation of the new palace and was persistent in making sure the dream of the new palace come through.
Adebutu also used the occasion to call on monarchs who are yet to get a befitting palace to start the project before writing letters to his office for assistance expressing hope that the Ijebu State pushed on the floor of the upper chamber of the National Assembly by Senator Daniel would come to fruition one day.
He said ” I greet you sons and daughters of irolu land I celebrate with you with the kind of Ọba you have. A king that is selfness. I know how worried heol was when the project was not ready but we thanked God it became possible.”
“All your efforts for Ijebu state will come to pass(Daniel)This is my second engagement today and I still have one more to go. This palace will not become hot.”
“I take this advantage that any Remo Ọba that want ot building Palace I will always support him, my only condition is that such Ọba should lay foundation first before written letters to my office. Advice to Other kings not to be selfish, as the receive funds that should use it for something tangible.” he noted
On his part, Senator Daniel, described Ọba Adeyiga as a forthright king who demonstrated the power of constituency to make sure the palace becomes a reality, “I just want to congratulate kabiesi for just being a forthright Oba, Today you have demonstrated what the power of determination and consistency can achieve, kabiesi I congratulate you.
Lamenting his 32 years on throne without a palace, Ọba Adeyiga, said that
he was the 13th monarch of the community who had ruled his kingdom with no palace for over three decades noting that seeing the edifice which he bought the land for N570,000 and built for seven years was historic and a dream come true in his life time.
He thanked Sir Adebutu and other dignitaries including sons and daughters of Irolu-Remo land for giving him an ultra modern and historic palace during his life time, saying that the palace would motivate the indigene home and abroad to be coming home and discuss so many issues affecting the community and those that could bring development to the community,
The Onirolu, however, said that one of the big projects he had in mind was to resuscitate the Irolu-Remo Community to assist small business owners and traders with loans to operate their various business but regretted that it went into extinction five years ago, due to poor management, while urging residents and indigene of Irolu-Remo to love each and live together in harmony and shun any thing that could cause disunity among them.
He said ” It was written in my acceptance speech that day that God, if you allow me to be the truly Oba of this community, I would like to be the first Oba to build a palace in Irolu. Thank God, it was long, but it has come to pass. I am the 13th Onirolu. Each Oba, when they ascend the throne, they stay in their home.
“The land where the palace is built was bought. I bought this place. It was money realized when we built a police station. We realized close to 700,000.
I bought this place for 570,000. The rest, I used it to survey the place. That was how we started.”
“Where a king is without a palace, the work is not complete. So when you have a palace, it is at that palace that the citizens of the community will be having their meetings. And to entice them, to motivate them to be coming home.
They know where they are coming. We will have a chance to discuss with ourselves. So, having a palace is significant in many ways, the need to have a palace.”
