The Onimesi of Imesi Ekiti, Oba Festus Olatunji Olatunde, Olaibiyemi 1, played host to a rich assemblage of traditional rulers during the just concluded Odun Ade festival in the ancient community of Imesi Ekiti.
The Akarigbo of Remo, Alayeluwa Adewale Babatunde Ajayi, who is also the Chairman, Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers attended the festival with a retinue of highly revered first-class monarchs from Ogun and Oshun states.
Among the Obas were; Oba Adewale Osiberu, the Elope of Epe; Oba Mukaila Akanji Olabinjo, the Eleposo of Eposo Remo;Â Oba Musiliu Oriyomi Soile, the Radanuwa of Idado Sagamu; Alapomu of Apomu from Oyo State attended with full Royal Regalia; the Ajero of Ijero Kingdom Oba Joseph Adewole; Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, and the Ajagun of Iluomoba, the trio from Ekiti State, were gracefully present at the yearly gathering of Royal Crowns, called Odun Ade.
The Ajero of Ijero called on the Yoruba race to revert to the old culture of building befitting palaces for their Obas. He said Obas are properties of the community and must therefore be made comfortable. A situation where Obas are left to build palaces with personal resources is an aberration. ” Our Colleagues in the North and South East are meticulously guiding the welfare of their Royal families.
The Akarigbo of Remo congratulated the Imesi community for the choice of Oba Festus Olatunji Olatunde, whom he described as a workaholic and an administrative engineer. As a follow up to Ajeros speech, The Akarigbo said, palaces are supposed to be models of community architectural standard and an index of respected Yoruba habitat, from which sons and daughters derive pride and competitive strength. He concluded by saying he and fellow Obas will stand by Imesi Community to ensure the Onimesis palace; come next season, should have made an appreciable improvement. The Oluyin of Iyin, Oba Adeola Ajakaiye, commended Onimesi for his unrelenting effort to rebrand and resuscitate an ancient empire known as Imesi Lasigidi.
Alapomu of Apomu remembered that Onimesi attended St Barnabas Primary School in Apomu for his elementary education (before proceeding to Ilesha). He recalled that Oba Olatundes love for tradition and culture dated back to the 60s when as a small boy, he was part of Egungun masquerade called Oloolu. Pololu masquerade led then by Chief Olayiwola was popular in Apomu, Ikire and Ikoyi.
In the words of High Chief Joseph Ademuagun, the Ofoji of Imesi Ekiti, Imesi community joy is unlimited because they remained convinced and satisfied that they have picked the right person to be the Onimesi in 2020. He promised that by the next festival, the Onimesis palace will certainly wear a new look.
Colleague’s of Onimesi in Christ’s School Ado Ekiti, fifty years ago, stormed the festival led, by Dr Charles Akinola,(Chief of staff to Oshun State Gov) Hon Yemi Oluwole, Proprietor of Midas Hotel, Ado Ekiti, Air vice Marshall Ayeni and popular football Star Dele Olaniyan (Alias no 9) and Mr Akande, Mendoza were at the festival to celebrate one of them, popular in Christ’s School GBEKUDE Drama, music and cultural expositions.
