โฆgets appointment letter
By Kayode Adeoti
The incoming Olomu of Omu Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Raheem Adeoti will soon go into seven days seclusion as part of traditional rites for his installation, National Pilot has learnt.
This development is coming after the state government presented an appointment letter to the new monarch on Friday in Ilorin, the state capital.
While in seclusion (Ipebi) at the Esa residence in Omu Aran, it was gathered, the former state Town Planning Development Authority (TPDA) scribe will be taken through some rites including certain norms and rules that govern the stool.
The spokesperson for the ruling house, Alhaji Azeez Adewuyi who confirmed this development last night stressed that the seclusion is an orientation programme for the incoming monarch.
Alhaji Adewuyi maintained that such development is not alien to Yoruba land.
He said, โYes, the development is normal and it is peculiar to Yoruba land. In Omu-Aran, it is just seven (7) days, in other places; it is more than that, though I am not sure if it will be observed in Chief Esaโs house. The purpose is to orientate him (the new Olomu) on some things.
โWe have not chosen a date for that yet because he has not returned from Ilorin,โ Adewuyi divulged.
In the same vein, a source close to the palace who spoke anonymously with this medium in Yoruba language noted that only selected few from the community will have access to the new Olomu while in seclusion.
According to him, the incoming monarch will use the avenue to offer prayers to the ancestors of the community for a peaceful reign.
โKabiesi will go into Ipebi (seclusion) for seven days; his major mission during this period is to offer prayers to our ancestors and the deity. That is what tradition demands and after theย exercise, he will be officially installed as the Olomu of Omu Aran.
โAmong the few that will have access to the monarch during the exercise are; the Ologun Oba, they are four (4) namely; Onigemo of Omu-Aran, David Ajiboye Idowu, Ajapono of Omu-Aran, Azeez Awoniyi, Olupono of Omu-Aran, Abdulazeez Adeniyi and Eruku of Omu Aran, Saadu Agbolade Owolewe,โ the source divulged.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Dr (Mrs) Habeebat Katibi, in a statement released on behalf of the Commissioner, Alhaji Saidu Habeeb, on Friday congratulated the monarch on the well deserved appointment.
The Commissioner also congratulated the people of Omu-Aran and Irepodun Local Government and prayed that the reign of the new monarch will usher in peace, progress and development in Omu-Aran and the state at large.
Part of the statement reads; โThis is to inform the general public that, following the death of the immediate past Olomu of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, late Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye, and in line with the required due process, His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr) Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State has approved the appointment of a new Olomu of Omu-Aran in person of Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti.โ
The new Olomu was born into the family of Mallam and Mrs. Yusuf Amuda Adeoti Awoyinka of Ijoko compound Omu-Aran, the Olomu-Efon ruling house on September 22, 1956.
He attended St Paulโs Anglican School Omu-Aran for his primary education and in 1966, Adeoti passed the Northern Nigeria Common Entrance Examination and was admitted to the prestigious Government Secondary School, Ilorin. He furthered to the famous Kaduna Polytechnic where he obtained his O.N.D., H.N.D. and P.G.D. in Urban and Regional Planning. Adeoti also obtained M.Sc. in Environmental Management.
His working experience commenced with the Kwara State Housing Corporation. He also worked with Kwara State Ministry of Works, Lands and Survey, the Ministry of Lands and Housing and finally to the Kwara State Town Planning and Development Authority. He served and rose to managerial position of Head of Department of Schemes and Urban Renewal, Head of Department of Development Control and to the highest position of Authority, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive for two terms before he withdrew voluntarily his service on May, 2018.
Adeoti is a registered Town Planner and a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, the highest professional status attainable in Urban and Regional Planning in Nigeria.
