A forum of prominent elites of Ikoyi land in Oriire local government area of Oyo State has urged the executive governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engineer Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde to consider the unanimous decision made by the town’s kingmakers over the selection of a most qualified candidate, Prof Saka Jimoh to fill the vacant Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ile stool .
It will be recalled that the last Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ile, Oba Abdulyekeen Ayinla Oladipupo IV, joined his ancestors after a brief illness on Wednesday evening, April 8, 2022. The Kingmakers have since then carried out their duty of sourcing for the most qualified Prince to ascend the vacant stool after all respective ruling houses/sections presented their Princes as aspirants.
The Ikoyi-Land elites who are professionals in their different fields of endeavor under the aegis of Ikoyi Land Vanguard in a press briefing attended by journalists in Ikoyi-lle urged the state governor to ignore rumor making the rounds that the selected candidate by the Kingmakers, Prof. Saka Oladunni Jimoh is not from Ikoyi Ile, says the rumor is an antic adopted by aggrieved families to deceive and mislead the state governor, government and people of Oyo State.
Ikoyi Land Vanguard, in their statement delivered by the chairman Taofeek Akinlolu Lawal, affirmed that Prof. Saka Oladunni is confirmed to be one of the sons of the Atoyebi family, a ruling House in Ikoye-ile, in Orire local government area of Oyo State.
While speaking further, Taofeek Akkinlolu Lawal said, the transparent selection process carried out by the six living Onikoyi Kingmakers eventually led to the unanimous selection of Prof. Saka Oladunni Jimoh , on 27th June, 2022.
“Ikoyi – Ile being an ancient land of great warriors has its people scattered across the globe as a result of series of wars and internal political crises which forced people out of the town towards the end of 17th century in a bid to save their lives during the war.
“For example some of the descendants of Adegun sojourned at Yowere in Aasa Local Government Area of Kwara State. Hence, their compund in IKoyi-Ile is till today, called YOWERE Compound.
“The Adesite family sojourned at Olomo Oba also in Kwara State and their family compound is called ILE OLOMO OBA till today .
“The Atoyebi Family (from which Prof. Saka Oladunni Jimoh descended) fled in different directions and some of them sojourned in Ogbomoso which included Olayode with family compound name ILE OGBOMOSO and later ILE LADELE and Olugusi (OLUGUSI COMPOUND and later AGBEDE ISALE. The ancestors of Prof. Saka Oladunni Jimoh sojourned in various places including Ijaiye and Ibadan (Oyo State), and then Olooru in Kwara State. After the wars, all Ikoyi people came back to re-settle in Ikoyi- Ile and some of them maintained the names of the towns where they lived during the period of wars”.
“Distinguished gentlemen of the press, the claim that Prof. Saka Oladunni Jimoh is not from Ikoyi-Ile as a result of his family compound’s name (ILE OLOORU) IS NOT TRUE”.
“The claim is a deliberate plot to deceive and mislead the government and people of Oyo State”.
“As a bonafide citizen and also a crown prince of Ikoyii-Ile, I attest to the fact that the selection of Prof. Saka Oladunni Jimoh is informed by the fact that he is a crown prince from Atoyebi Ruling House; he is a God-fearing man, honest and responsible.
“Prof. Saka Oladunni Jimoh has in various ways, contributed his quota to the progress and development of Ikoyi – Ile. He has used his wealth of experience as an Administrator and Academic to assist many Ikoyi sons and daughters in different capacities.
“Without sentiment, Prof. Saka Oladunni Jimoh is not contesting for the post for his selfish interest but is answering the call of his family and Ikoyi Land in general.
The Ikoyi – -Land Vanguard, a registered elites forum which is a non-partisan, non-religious, and non-political association with the main interest of seeking progress and development of Ikoyi Land and its people both at home and in the Diaspora appreciates Governor Makinde ‘s commitment to good governance and a positive disposition to people’s welfare, infrastructural development, peace and security in the state.
The forum urged the governor to use his leadership position to uphold fairness and justice concerning the installation of a new King in Ikoyi-Ile.
