Prince Ismail Bukola Ladigbolu, one of the topmost contestants to the throne of Alaafin of Oyo, has told his brothers from the Agunloye Ruling House why rallying round the new monarch, Oba Akeem Owoade, is the best for Oyo.
His appeal followed the series of threat, opposition and litigations that have continued to attend the selection of Prince Owoade.
The uproar began after the appointment of the 45th Alaafin-designate by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and eventual presentation of Instruments of Office to him at the Executive Chambers of the Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday.
Ladigbolu, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday urged his aggrieved brothers or any other stakeholders to allow for peace to reign in the town, saying: “If we all believe that installation of Oba Owoade is for the progress and development of Oyo town and its environs, why not accept him as our brother from the same Agunloye family, unless anyone has ulterior motive behind the rejection.
“The seed of unity among the Agunloye families had been planted by our forefathers such that Muslims and Christians among us were relating together as brothers, not minding one another’s faith.
“When we were younger, we were used to going to Agure Compound in Oyo to celebrate Christmas and New Year festivities with our Christian brothers and sisters.
“The children of Owoade family would also come to us to celebrate Ileya Festival as Muslims.
“The spirit of brotherhood was enshrined among us by our fathers then.
“I also remember that Baba Bola Owoade would always host all children from the extended Agunloye family on New Year day.
“Our fathers made sure the kids paired up as friends from the first to the last, such like Desile Owoade their last born and I.
“We were relating together under the same canopy of Agunloye.
“So, we are one and we should all come together and support our brother for him to succeed in his reign on our town.”
Ladigbolu, who is an Abuja-based businessman, entrepreneur, film-maker and investor, therefore congratulated the Alaafin-designate, wishing him peaceful reign, longevity of life, progress and development for the town and Yorubaland in general.
His words: “I pray that the King’s time should bring peace and unity to the land, and bring development to the community.
“Oyo’s name is so strong that it shouldn’t be seen as a village but a City.
“I also pray God to give our King the wisdom to be able to unite all the sons and daughters of Agunloye because he is an Ambassador of Agunloye Ruling House and by the special grace of God he will make the family proud.
“Let us continue to support the development of Oyo as we have always been doing because either by selection, election or appointment, whoever has been chosen should be supported once his choice shows that he is a right person; and it is for the development of Oyo.
“It is only God who puts people in positions of authority.
“We should all know that no ambition is bigger than Oyo.
“Oyo is bigger than anybody’s ambition.
“Every Agunloye Prince should therefore support the new Oba to succeed.
“Let us all allow the love that exists between the Owoade and Ladigbolu families within the Agunloye Ruling House continue to glow.
“To all the citizens of Oyo, both within and outside the country, this is the best time to come home, pay your patronage.
“It is the beginning of a new era.
“So, let’s come together and take Oyo to where it should be.
“There’s no other place to call our home.
“This is the time to bring all our resources together no matter how little, to contribute our quota in terms of knowledge, ideas, resources.”
