Alhaji Abdulazeez Adebayo has emerged as the first ever Oba of the members of the Yoruba community living in Enugu State.
Osun-born Adebayo obtained the nod of Yoruba people from the seven states of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, Kogi and Kwara living in Enugu to make history as the first the person to be installed traditional over the South westerners in the Eastern State.
Adebayo, while speaking during the community’s meeting on Tuesday in Enugu revealed that Yoruba ethnic nationality in the state comprised Ibadan Progressive Union, Ede Descendants, as well as Olateji, Ekiti, Ondo, Ilorin Descendant Unions.
He described his emergence as dream come true because, according to him, the Yoruba community in Enugu has been yearning to have an Oba without success for many years.
“Today, the Ibadan Progressive Union decided to associate and join the Progressive Yoruba Community in Enugu state since what we have been yearning for many years–to have an Oba– has come true.’’
On how he was chosen, Adebayo said the process entailed looking for somebody with good record, good behaviour and who could take care for his people.
According to him, the person must also be trustworthy and ensure quality representation of Yoruba people in the state.
Explaining how the clamour for Yorubas in Enugu to have an Oba started, he said some people indicated interest to contest for the position in 2018.
Adebayo added that after screening, a report about the aspirants was submitted to the Yoruba community.
“We lost about three persons in the process of waiting to choose who will be our Oba.
“This is what the Yoruba elders saw and decided to bring a neutral person who is trusted and I was called upon to take the position.
“I came to Enugu on Feb.7, 1979 and since then, I have lived peacefully in the state,” he said.
While urging them for support, love and unity, Adebayo appealed to other Yorubas, who were not in the fold, to join the community.
In his remarks, one of the aspirants, Chief Valentine Adesina, noted that there had been leadership tussle among the aspirants.
“After the general meeting, they agreed to have a committee that will look into that; we were about seven including me but it was reduced to three.
“We didn’t do an election but we considered certain criteria like age and character; at the end of the day, the elders came up with Adebayo.
“He has been one of the pioneer members piloting the affairs of the community for about 35 years now.
“For that singular reason, he knows more than most of us; most Yoruba elders that started with him had gone back home, while others had died.
“I decided to step down for him to move the community forward,” Adesina said.
(NAN)
