In his continued mission on restoring the lost glory of the Oduduwa heritage affecting Yoruba territories in some geopolitical zones in Nigeria and across the continent of Africa, The Ooni of Ife and Co-chair man, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN), Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II yesterday crowned a full-blooded descendant of Obalufon Alayemore(The 5th Ooni of Ife) as the new Elerin of Erin-Ile in Kwara state, HRM, Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye Adetona 1, marking a historic moment in the history of the town.
Ooni Ogunwusi who arrived Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, Kwara state at about 2pm from Abuja received by some dignitaries delegated to receive him immediately drove straight to Erin – Ile on about an hour and 30 minutes journey and arrived at the ancient Yoruba community of the North Central geopolitical zone at about 3:30 pm royally received by the waiting new monarch; Oba Adebowale Adesoye, Adetona I, alongside his amiable queen and children and several other Yoruba traditional rulers particularly from Osun, Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara states, led by the Ataoja of Osogbo in Osun state, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji.
In his royal speech while decorating the new Elerin of Erin Ile with the beaded crown, Ooni Ogunwusi described the people of Erin Ile as bonafide members of the House of Oduduwa from the lineage of Ooni Obalufon Alayemore commending the kingdom for consistently upholding the legacy of cultural values handed them by their ancestors who had migrated from Ile-Ife, the acenstral home of the Yorrubas several centuries ago.
“The good people of Erin Ile kingdom! I feel so proud of all of you in this community for you have consistently maintained a close affinity with Ile-Ife from where your forefathers migrated several centuries ago. You are one of the few kingdoms outside the Southwest geopolitical zone in the country still demonstrating as the full-blooded descendants of the Great Ife. That’s why I had to break all barriers to be here this afternoon. I left Abuja where I had gone for a national assignment, I got here in a private jet still waiting for me at the Ilorin airport because I still have events to attend on Lagos today.
Erin Ile is undoubtedly one of the most valued kingdoms that were created by the Ifes. You have so far carried your Ife identity with enviable pride even though you are today grouped as a Northern community and we are very proud of you. Ever since your migration from Ile-Ife several years ago, you have never forgotten where you came from, you have rather not only maintained a consistent relationship with Ile-Ife and you have been performing your culture and traditions in accordance with the legacy inherited from your forefathers who came from Ile-Ife to settle here. Keep it up, we are very proud of you as our kinsmen who have never forgotten their ancestral root. Omo To So Ile Nu, So Apo Iya Ko”. Ooni Ogunwusi said.
In his acceptance speech after receiving the beaded crown placed on his head by the Chief Custodian of beaded crowns in Yorubaland himself, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II win the presence of the multitude croud of sons and daughters of the Erin Ile Kingdom, the newly crowned Elerin of Erin Ile in Kwara state Oba Adesoye Adebowale, Adetona I thanked the the Ooni Ogunwusi for his love for the people of Erin-Ile by not forgetting them. He described Ooni Ogunwusi as a perfect representative of of Oduduwa who has invested much of his resources on the project to unite the descendants of Oduduwa worldwide pledging his full support and that of the sons and daughters of the kingdom.
“We are so lucky in Erin Ile as descendants of Ile-Ife who came to settle here several centuries ago to have Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula as our overall father in Yorubaland. He has always been open to matters concerning Erin Ile people. You are a father who doesn’t forget his children anywhere they are globally. Our support for your leadership is 100%.
No matter what some other children say or do to you in sacrilege please don’t be perturbed as you have the loyalty of most of us in Yorubaland. You are the number 1, that’s why we had waited for your convenient time to be the only one in Yorubaland to give us the crown. That’s how we inherited it and that’s how we will practice it forever”. Elerin said.
As the custodian of beaded crowns in Yorubaland, Ooni Ogunwusi had two years ago given a beaded crow to the Onij
Erin-Ile, located in Kwara State, traces its historical origins to a descendant of Obalufon Alayemore of Ife. The town was founded around 1225 AD by Prince Odumasa Apaayan, who was a grandson of King Obalufon Ogbogbodirin (Obalufon I) through Obalufon Alayemore. This royal lineage from Ife is central to Erin-Ile’s identity and culture. Erin-Ile celebrates an annual Obalufon festival to honor their ancestral founder and maintain the cultural and spiritual links to Ife.Thus, the connection between Obalufon and Erin-Ile is both genealogical and cultural: Erin-Ile’s founders are descendants of Obalufon, and the town continues to celebrate this heritage through festivals and traditions celebrating Obalufon’s legacy.
Reliable oral tradition and intensive research harmoniously resolved the historical origin of
Erin – Ile around illustrious royal Prince of Ile-Ife called Odumosa known to be a renowned hunter and marksman. Odumosa was a devout religionist and focused leader. He was a grandson of the Ooni Obalufon who was the resigning same time when Oranmiyan was resigning as the Alaafin of Oyo. After the death of the aged Obalufon, the Ife kingmakers rather than sending emissaries to inform Alaafin Oranmiyan in Oyo, hurriedly appointed late Obalufon’s son, a brother of Odumosa as the new Ooni. All of a sudden, Oranmiyan returned from his expeditions and abruptly surfaced in Ile-Ife vacating his throne of Alaafin in Oyo for his son; Dada Ajaka who became the 2nd Alaafin of Oyo. Ooni Obalufon Alayemore was ousted via a palace coup to become the next Ooni of Ife succeeding Obalufon Alayemore who has to take exile in Erin- Ile.
Signed:.
Otunba Moses Olafare,
Director, Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni’s Palace,
Ile-Ife.
