How The Next Owa Obokun of Ijesaland Will Emerge

It's no longer news that the Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland Oba Adekunle Gabriel Aromolaran II has joined his ancestors.

It has also become a stale gist that the 90 days traditional transitional rites for the deceased monarch has begun with the very first phase of it, the closure of markets across Ijesaland for 7 day, had already been observed between 14th and 20th September 2024. Within this period, curfew was also declared for Oro rituals for the proper spiritual cleansing of the ancient town.

What has, however, remain the center of interest now is who succeeds Aromolaran who ascended the throne on February 20, 1982, and passed away on Thursday September 12, 2024, at the age of 86.

Of course, it's a known traditional fact that no succession process will take place until after the final burial of the departed Kabiyesi.

It's also an established fact that the ruling house to produce a successor to the throne is already known, according to the rotational procedure of the town.

Setting the record straight, Chief Priest of Ijesaland, Ifagbemiga Ajilore has affirmed that the oracle (Ifa) would choose the next Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, not the government.

Ajilore, in an interview, said "We believe that Ifa will choose a good king for us. It is our hope to have a good monarch that will lead well. Ifa is still active and reckoned with in ljesaland. Some Obas saying rubbish about our tradition are those who were not chosen by Ifa in the first place. Those denigrating our culture were not chosen by Ifa. Some Obas identifying with other religions have lost it. I have consulted Ifa for many towns and it chose their kings, our own in ljesaland won't be different."

As expected, however, there has been ongoing subtle scheming at the background as well as suggestions and expectations on who the likely successor should be.

In fact, some have described choosing the next Owa Obokun as a delicate issue that must be handled with utmost care and wisdom.

To them, there are many things to be taken into consideration by the Kingmakers during the selection process.

The believe is that apart from the 800-year-old Owa Obokun throne being one of the oldest and most revered Yoruba royal stools, its immediate past occupier, Aromolaran II has further raised the bar to the throne. 

Let's tell you more about Oba Adekunle Aromolaran II. The highly respected monarch wasn't just a king but an Oba with a deep sense of Yoruba values and tradition under whose 42 years reign Ilesa, and the Ijesaland generally enjoyed unprecedented peace and tranquility.

Aromolaran made sure he left the throne as well as Ijesaland better than he met it. He was able to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors. His immense contributions and the developments experienced during his reign are phenomenal.

Oba Aromolaran II was not only a royal father but a good representation of what royalty should be. He was the first Nigerian Oba with a Ph.D Degree in Development Economics. 

So for these and many other reasons, those who are directly concerned have been hammering it into the ears of the kingmakers in Ijesaland to choose right.

According to them, the successor to the throne must not be an 'emergency' prince. The likely successor, they say, must be someone who is well connected to the people. He must be a well grounded, young, cosmopolitan and exposed personality. Someone of a good character and  integrity. The next Owa Obokun Adimula they also believe must be deeply rooted in Yoruba tradition and culture.

How would the next Owa Obokun emerge? There are four ruling houses that are entitled to the throne. The ascension procedure is rotational between these ruling houses. The ruling houses include Bilaro, Biladun, Bilayi Arere and Bilagbayo. Bilagbayo consists Atayerọ, Agunlejika, Lufadeju and other families.

The late Aromolaran II emerged from Bilayi Arere Ruling House. Under Bilayi Arere Ruling House are families like Aromolaran, Bepo and others.

We gathered that the next ruling house to produce the next Owa Obokun is Bilaro Ruling House which consists of Ofokutu and Ajimoko families (this include the Hatsrup family). It's from these two families that the successor to the throne will be picked based on the existing rotational arrangement.

Findings further revealed that choosing the next Owa Obokun will be decided by the 13 High Chiefs and Traditional Rulers who formed the kingmakers of Ijesaland.

The kingmakers, it was gathered, are in 3 categories-the six members of Agba Ijesa-in-Council, four members of the Aare-in-Council and the three members of traditional military commanders.

In the first category which is Agba Ijesa-in-Council are Ọbaala of Ilesa, Ogboni of Ipole, Ogboni Ijebu Jesa, Ogboni of Ibokun, Ogboni of Ilesa and Obaodo of Ilesa (The Chief Scribe of ljesaland).

The second category, the Aare-in-Council, consists the Ọdole of Ilesa, Risawe of Ilesa, Saloro of Ilesa and Arapate of Ilesa. While the third category which is the traditional military commanders is made up of the Lejoka of Ilesa, Loro of Ilesa and Lejofi of Ilesa.