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By Funsho Arogundade
Saturday September 13 was a red letter day for the sons and daughters of Ilasa Ekiti as the ancient town in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State roared to life to play hosts to hundreds of dignitaries on the occasion of the 10th coronation anniversary of their revered monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ajayi Oluwasesan Omolagba (Odanaogun IV) the Alasa of Ilasa Kingdom.
The grand finale of the week-long royal celebration – held at the Pavillion of the Alasa Palace – was definitely one for the books. It was colourful, ceremonial, and graceful, drawing a large attendance of all strata of society: the mighty, the noble, the royal, and the common people. Traditional rulers from different parts of the South West States —about 65 in number— graced the occasion to add dignity and splendour to the ceremony. The governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji not only sent a goodwill message but also supported the celebration with a hefty sum of money.
The highpoint was the launch of the monarch’s foundation —Oba Ajayi Omolagba Foundation— an initiative to further coalesce his developmental programmes for the benefit of the people of his community. The celebration also featured among other things the conferment of chieftaincy titles on prominent individuals of the community and beyond. With drumming, dancing and singing enveloped all corners of the majestic Alasa Palace, the title holders took turns to pay homage to the Oba, and at the same time, get royal blessings and their traditional paraphernalia of office.
Ten years ago, Oba Omolagba ascended to the Alasa throne, bringing with him a vision for a brighter future and a steadfast commitment to the welfare of the community. A decade after, his reign has been marked by wisdom, courage, and a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of his people. His leadership has fostered growth, unity, and prosperity, earning him the love and respect of the community.
During his decade-long reign, the monarch recorded a long list of tremendous achievements that included the affirmation of royal weight leading to the elevation of Alasa to a First Class status, transformation of Alasa Palace to a befitting place, rehabilitation of the police station and mobilising for the commencement of Police Barrack project, modernisation of the town’s market and the push for the creation of Ekiti South East LCDA with Ilasa as the headquarters, among others.
The remarkable milestone is not just a celebration of Oba Omolagba’s decade on the throne, but also a tribute to his purposeful leadership, steadfast commitment to cultural heritage, and his invaluable contributions to the peace, unity, and progress of the kingdom.
In addition to the homage and tributes paid to the monarch for his meritorious contributions to the community since his installation as the Alasa, the monarch’s subjects —under the aegis of Ilasa Development Union led by notable lawyer and politician, Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, demonstrated their heartfelt love and affection for their monarch by donating a Toyota Highlander SUV as an anniversary gift. They also prayed for continued good health, wisdom, and divine guidance as Oba Omolagba navigates the complexities of leadership in Ilasa Ekiti.
