Chartered accountant becomes new Akarigbo of Remoland
…Three professors, 15 others lost out
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By Sola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)
NIGERIA: KINGMAKERS in Sagamu, Ogun State, have elected the new Akarigbo of Remoland.
By simple five votes majority, the kingmakers on Thursday chose 52-year-old chartered accountant, Prince Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, from Torungbuwa linage, as successor to the late Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo.
The kingmakers who participated in the election are Chiefs Rasak Akinyemi Salami (Lisa), Abdul Wasiu Awofala (Losi), Taiwo Sule (Oluwo Odofin), Lamidi Olaitan Adesanya (Apena), Ogunyemi Tijani Adesina (Ogbeni Odi), Kolawole Odumuyiwa (Balogun) and Olotu Omoba Jas Adekunle (Olotu Omoba Akarigbo).
Oba Sonariwo died on July 23, 2016 in London, UK where he went for medical treatment.
The 19th Akarigbo-elect, defeated his closest rival, Professor Babatunde Ogunmola, who garnered two votes, and 17 other contestants for the first class vacant stool at the election supervised by the Secretary to the Sagamu Local Government, Otunba Adewale Fakoya, who read the names of the 19 nominees to the kingmakers, requesting them to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice.
The local government had announced the result after the election, saying that Ajayi, a Barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, defeated other contestants to emerge as the new monarch of Remoland.
“The result of the election revealed that Prince Adewale Ajayi emerged the new Akarigbo of Remoland with 5 votes, Prof. Babatunde Ogunmola had two votes while other 17 nominees had no vote,” the council said.
“The newly-elected Akarigbo is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a chartered accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria,” it stated.
After the election, the council said that Awofala moved the motion to forward the name of the Ajayi to the government and this was seconded by the Odumuyiwa.
The council said: “After the election, Chief Abdul Wasiu Awofala (Losi) moved the motion to forward the name of the elected Akarigbo to the government and this was seconded by Chief Kolawole Odumuyiwa (Balogun).”
The state Commissioner for Local and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko, confirmed the emergence of Ajayi as the Akarigbo-elect.
“It is true that a candidate has been elected as the new Akarigbo of Remoland,” Ojuko said. “He is Prince Tunde Ajayi.”
“I am happy the processes have been peaceful; I mean both the nomination and selection. And very soon, the installation date will be announced,” he explained.
The Commissioner said that the installation date would be announced very soon.
Other Princes, who vied for the Akarigbo stool, are ex-Chairman, Board of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola; the President of African Mathematical Union and the former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Adewale Solarin, and Prof. Tunde Ogunsanwo of the Department of Chemical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
Others, who also struggled to become the 19th Akarigbo are Adeyinka Adeniyi, Akibu Kazeem, Adedapo Opeaye, Ibukun Alayo, Adebayo Mutiu Bolajoko, Abiodun Ogunbiyi, Nuru Oyekan and Tajudeen Saka.
Also interested are Ayoola Adetinoye, Adeuja Ashimolowo, Saula Adenowo, Folarin Solarin, Seyi Sotubo, Bolaji Osiderumu and Adeniyi Adesanya.
Only last week, the local government gave the kingmakers seven days to elect successor to Oba Sonariwo, also an accountant.
In the letter addressed to Salami, as representative of the Akarigbo-in-Council, the council said: “I hereby refer to the above subject and to inform you that following the conduct of the Nomination Meeting of the Torungbuwa Akarigbo Ruling House on the filling of the vacant stool of Akarigbo of Remoland held on Thursday 24th 2017.
“The Kingmakers are expected to meet within seven (7) days from the date of this letter to consider the candidates and elect the most suitable among them to fill the vacant stool of Akarigbo of Remoland.”
“The Secretary to Sagamu Local Government is expected to attend the meeting as an observer,” it said in the letter signed by Fakoya, adding: “The list of nominated candidates is herewith presented to you as follows. Thank you.”
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