You don’t make history in a hurry. You don’t build great structures in a hurry. You don’t create lasting wealth in a hurry. They say a good name is better than silver and gold. You don’t make good name in a hurry.Building a great empire is not like cookıng two minutes instant noodles. Otun Ekiti, Moba Kingdom and the institution of Oore did not arrive where we are in a flash. We have over 1,000 years of history behind us. Therefore, the personality we are celebrating today is a representative of the gods of our land and a representative of the King ofkings, the Almighty God.
He is as ageless as the institution he is representing. He is as ageless as the throne he occupies. This is possibly one ofthe reasons why an Oore once installed never get to see his mother face to face anymore. Yes, he was borm by a mother in a particular day, but the moment he mounts the throne, he becomes as ageless as the throne. When he speaks, he speaks with the wisdom of the ageless.
When he says: “Esijoore a gbe yin o”, he is invoking the positive spirits of all the past Oores and the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to bless you and make a way for you. Otun Ekiti has always been blessed by God with outstanding Obas. In 1886, Oore Okinbaloye, great grandfather of Oore Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo signed the peace treaty that brought an end to the longest intra-tribal war in the history of humanity. Oore Ariyowaye (Baba Jolade) who reigned between 1916 and 1929 was the first person to buy a car, two lories and build a house with corrugated iron sheets in this part of the world.
Oore Oyinloye, a very outstanding king, was the one who succeeded in the liberation struggle to bring back Moba and some parts of Ekiti to Southern Nigeria from Northern subjugation. Oore Aroyinkeye led traditional rulers and leaders of thought from the whole of the formal Ondo province to the then Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed to demand for the creation of Ondo State and that the capital city of the State must be in Akure. General Mohammed granted the request and created the formal Ondo State on February 3rd 1976. Unfortunately, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed was assassinated on February 13, 1976.
The immediate past Oore Odundun Adedapo Popoola met a fractionalized, beaten and battered community that was almost cut off from the rest of the world and left it a united, peaceful, clean and progressive community. God has again blessed us with a warm hearted, good looking, hard working, bright, generous, kind, energetic, thoughtful, considerate, easy going and pragmatic king. He is able, capable, reliable and dependable. He is visionary, adventurous, affectionate, ambitious and well connected.
Our king is amiable, compassionate, courageous, courteous, diligent, empathetic, exuberant, frank, generous, gregarious, impartial, intuitive, inventive, passionate, persistent, philosophical, practical and rational.
When the book, “Every Inch a King” was written by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Governor of Osun State as a biography of his father, it never occurred to anyone that the phrase would be the most appropriate for the next Oore. Oba Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo is every inch a king. Standing before us today is Oloore Oduduwa, His Royal Majetsy, Oba Dr Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo, Ilufemiloye I, the Oore of Otun Ekiti and paramount ruler of Moba people in Ekiti State, Kwara State, Lagos State and even the Republic of Benin.
According to the royal genealogy, His Royal Majetsy, Oba Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo, is a direct descendant of Oore Okinbaloye, who signed thetreaty to bring an end to the protracted war known as Ekiti Parapo war or Kiriji war in 1886. Let us trace the genealogy using the King James Version of English language: Oba Okinbaloye begat Prince Sanni Ogunmade Adeagbo,a staunch politician and promoter of Action Group under the leadership of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Prince Ogunmade begat Prince (Hon) Samuel Adebowale Adeagbo. Member. Federal House of Representatives (old Ondo State) and Vice Chaiman. House Committee on Transport between 1979 and 1983. It is on record that Hon Adeagbo sponsored the bill that led to the establishnent of the Federal Road Safety Commission. Prince Samuel Adebowale Adeagbo knew his wife, Lady Janet Ara
Adeagbo and his wife conceived of a son and begat a good looking male child who is today His Royal Majetsy, Oba Dr Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo. Ilufemiloye I, the 22nd Oore and Paramount Ruler of Moba Kingdom.
Born in to the Ile Eye Aba Ruling House of Otun Ekiti, Oba Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo attended All Saints’ Primary School, Jericho. Ibadan, Oyo State and the International School, University of Ibadan for his Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Certificates. Thereafter, the young Prince gained admission to the prestigious and foremost University in Nigeria, the University of Ife(Obafemi Awolowo University) where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics.
He also holds the Honourary Doctorate degree on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Espam University, Cotonou,Republic of Benin.
For his National Youth Service Scheme, he was posted to Rigom Oil Services / Shell Petroleum Development Company, West Ogunu, Warri, Delta State. A shrewd, innovative and committed economist, Prnce Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo worked in several establishments, where he proved his mettle as a disciplined and productive Senior Officer, leaving his indelible footprints wherever he worked.
He worked at Colkon Marine Support Services Ltd, Victoria Island, Lagos between 2014 and 2019 as the Executive Director of Projects. He also worked with several International Oil Companies like Exxon Mobil, Addax and Total Upstream Ltd as Technical and Financial Officer.
Similarly, he served as the Head of Projects at Mettle Dredging and Marine Ltd, Ikoyí, Lagos between 2007 and 2014. He also supervised the sand filling of Buena Vista Estate for Chevron Cooperative, opposite Chevron Headquarters in Lekki, Lagos. He successfully supervised and completed the land preparation works for the gigantic Dangote 600,000 barrels a day refinery at Ibeju Lekki. Lagos State between 2014 and 2018.
He perfected the sand filling of Sahara Group Tank Farm site at Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne, Rivers State. The Oore of Moba Kingdomn is the founder and Director of several companies including: Mercury Dredging and Construction Ltd, Lagos; Mercury Dredging and Construction Incorporated, Canada and Royalties Mining and Construction Ltd, Ile Ife, Osun State. When the news filtered in that His Royal Majetsy, Oba James Adedapo Popoola had joined his ancestors, the fear was who will succeed Oba Popoola because of the large shoes the great Oba left behind.
Today, we have a testimony that God answers prayers. After due considerations and consultations by the king makers, in line with the customs and tradition of the ancient town as directed by the Ekiti State Government, Prince Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo was selected on 5th May 2020 from among seven Princes of Ile Iya Aba Ruling House to ascend the revered throne of Oore. His selection was approved by the Governor Kayode Fayemi led administration of Ekiti State and he was installed on May 27, 2020. Oba Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo made his triumphant entry into Otun Ekiti on Friday, May 29, when he commenced the traditional rites as the 22nd Oore of the ancient city.
A very close ally of the Arole Oodua and Ooní Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Enitan Adeyeye Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, Oba Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo, Ilufemiloye I is very social, well traveled and globally exposed. According to him, he’s not interested inpetty rivalries among kings. In his words: “I have a job to do and mny entire focus is on that job: to ensure peace and development of Otun Ekiti, Moba land, Moba Kingdom and the Yoruba race.
History is not politics, history is not by geographical or economic size. Anyone who wants to manipulate history can do so as long as he is here, very soon all of us will become history, negatively or positively. For me, I have made a choice to be on the positive side of history. Development, development, developmnent, peace, peace, peace, that’s my focus”.
Your Excellencies and Royal Majesties, I have the honor and privilege to present to this august gathering, the 22nd Oore of Otun Ekiti and paramount ruler of Moba Kingdom, His Royal Majetsy, Oba Dr Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo, Ilufemiloye I for Ekiti Peace Day Royal Personality of the Year .
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