Sixty years after, Oyo monarch gets beaded crown, staff of office

The ancient and serene Ipapo community in Itesiwaju Local Government area of Oyo State was in festive mood last Sunday, as the ruler, Oba  Yeken Ademola Afolabi Adisa Gbadewolu 11 , was decorated with
beaded crown by the Alaafin of Oyo and Permanent Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs , Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111.
The people of Ipapo are mainly peasant farmers and hunters.
The new monarch is the first to receive beaded crown, while previous
head of the community were Baales since the community was founded
about sixty years ago.
Due to the concerted efforts of the Alaafin of Oyo and whose
institution’s principle anchored on fairness, justice, and equity, the
State Government eventually endorsed and approved the new monarch’s
beaded crown and staff of office.
It was funfair galore , as indigenes and residents rolled out the
drums and besieged major streets in the community to celebrate  with
their new ruler, who they referred to as ‘’visionary and God-fearing
monarch’’ .
Shops and government offices were under lock and key, as, market men
and women, including workers thronged to venue of the coronation, in
order to be part of remarkable history.
The Alaafin of Oyo, who arrived the community in a long convoy of
vehicles comprising of Oke-ogun traditional rulers, and some members
of the Oyo Traditional Council [Oyo Mesi], was received into the
community by the elated residents and indigenes who were full of
praises for what they referred to as ‘’Oba Adeyemi’s intervention and
honesty of purpose as the Permanent Chairman, Oyo State Council of
Obas and Chiefs in the recommendation of their monarch for the wearing
of beaded crown.’’
In his address, Oba Adeyemi the paramount ruler described beaded
crowns as ‘’the most convert paraphernalia of Yoruba Obaship’’.
According to him, beaded crowns are sacred and so should be sparingly used.
“Wearing of beaded crowns by Yoruba Obas should be used in such a way
that will illustrate the distinguish Yoruba etiquette. The dignity of
our traditions rests on the values of our culture, and we must not
allow the society we live in nowadays to rob us off of our cherished
and valuable cultural values’’.
The crown, he said, incarnates the intuition of royal ancestral force,
the revelation of great moral insight in the person of the king, and
the glitter of aesthetic experience.
The paramount ruler admonished the people to be submissive to the
authority of the Oba who in turn is expected to rule for the general
good and welfare of the community as a whole.
‘’ In fact, no ruler or leader in contemporary modern political system
has the kind of control and influence possessed by the Oba on the
people. Oba is generally seen, recognized and acknowledged as the
custodian of the people’s history and culture. A Yoruba Oba
personifies the kingdom and represents the reincarnation of the past
ancestors of the community. The words of an Oba were orders and their
actions were divine and sacred’’.
This position, Alaafin asserted, can be harnessed in modern democratic
and development ideals to make the Oba the focal instrument of
acquiring the total cooperation, support, acceptance and consent of
the general public for government programmes and policies’’.
In his message, the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi,
represented by the Director of Chieftaincy Affairs in the state
Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Jayeoba,
urged the new monarch to promote peace and unity among all the people
of the community.
Ajimobi cautioned the monarch against acts that can tarnish his reputation.
The governor who lauded traditional rulers in the state, particularly
the Alaafin of Oyo for their support for his administration,
reiterated the commitment of his administration towards their welfare.
The new ruler was later presented with the staff of office by the
governor’s representatives, amid jubilations by happy-looking people
of the community.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Adisa Gbadewolu 11, pledged to dedicate
his life to the service of his people,, the community, and to commit
his knowledge, contacts, integrity and all endowments granted him by
God to the growth and development of his people and the community.
‘’As the throne is established by righteousness, I pledge to remain
fair and just in all dealings for the betterment of all’’, Oba Adisa
Gbadewolu asserted.
The traditional ruler also thanked the Alaafin of Oyo for what he
described as ‘’his un-quantified support’’.
Earlier, The Alaafin of Oyo, accompanied by some traditional rulers in
Oke-ogun area wore the new ruler with the beaded crown after the performance of some traditional rites.