Adebayo Abdulrahman
On the 5th of April 2013, two days to the first anniversary of his coronation, the streets of Saki became mournfully quiet and the skies became unusually cloudy as the death of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Kilani Olarinre, was announced to the sober ears of the land.
After the demise of Oba Kilani Olarinre Olatoyese Ilufemiloye on a festive Friday in the second quarter of 2013, the stool of the Okere Of Saki became vacant.
Six years after, on the 18th of December 2019, after many spots of rain, several court appearances, unending arguments and most importantly a dialogue with the gods of the land, the kingmakers announced to the delight and satisfaction of the nervous land that the new Kabi-e-o-si of the town is Oba Khalid Olabisi Oyeniyi from the Ado ruling house.
The new king is a well-known surveyor, a successful businessman, and a proven philanthropist. His emergence has been described by many as a prove that truly the gods speak the mind of the people
However, there are few facts about the new king known only to few and unknown to many. Adebayo Abdulrahman of OYOINSIGHT.COM writes.
1. RELATIVE OF ALAAFIN
The new Okere of Saki is a descendant of the Ado ruling house. However, he is also maternally related to the current Alaafin of Oyo, Ikubaba yeye Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi because his mother, Alhaja Safurat Aduke Olabisi is the daughter of Alhaji Shittu Akande Adepoju Arowojeka (king’s grandfather) and Alhaja Aishat Abio Shittu Arowojeka (king’s grandmother), and the father of Alhaji Shittu Arowojeka who is the king’s maternal grandfather is the son of the Late Arowojeka (the king’s great grandfather) who is from Ile Ilaka Olokota in Oyo. The king’s great grandfather left Oyo after losing his bid to become the Alaafin of Oyo.
2. MINISTERIAL UNCLE
The new king is also biologically related to various individuals who have either wielded political power or commanded enormous respect both in the past and present.
Foremost among them is Barrister Abdulraheem Adebayo Shittu, a former legislator, two-time commissioner and the immediate past minister for communications of the federal republic of Nigeria. Shittu is a maternal uncle of the king because he is the younger brother of the king’s mother, Alhaja Safurat Aduke Olabisi.
3. A PROGRESSIVE POLITICIAN
The new king’s aspiration to lead has never been limited to the royal blood flowing in his veins. He was an active figure in the progressive side of political affairs in the state before his ascension to the throne. During the 2011 general elections, he was the flagbearer of the (now defunct) Action Congress of Nigeria in the House of representative race to represent the good people of Saki at the green chambers in Abuja. However, he lost in the race to become a lawmaker to Hon. Tajudeen Abisodun Kareem Were of the PDP.
4. POPULAR HOTELIER
Aside from being a University of Lagos, UNILAG, trained chartered surveyor, Oba Khalid Olabisi is a businessman with investments in several business ventures. One of his most known investments is that he is the owner of one of Westland hotels in Lagos and Saki. The Saki branch of the hotel which is located at Ogbooro road is one of the most popular in the town.
