Ogun community youths, hunters, others drums support for new Oba-elect

By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta

Scores of hunters on Saturday, marched the streets and roads in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in solidarity with the new Oba-elect for Orile Ilawo community in Odeda Local Government Area of the state, Alexander Olusegun MacGregor.

The Canada returnee, who is a professor of Clinical Pharmacology, was selected and nominated to ascend the Olu of Orile Ilawo stool by the town’s Warrant Chiefs appointed by the state government.

He was picked among the contestants for the traditional stool barely two weeks ago at Elegunmefa, the exact location their ancestors resided when they made the area a place of habitation.

Prof. MacGregor succeeds the town’s pioneer monarch, Oba Adedapo Aina, who joined his ancestors many years ago.

The solidary and ‘Thank You’ rally which took off at MacGregor Heritage Foundation House in Abeokuta, Abeokuta North saw youths and hunters in Orile-Ilawo, Alagbagba and its environs, chanting songs of appreciation to the people and sectional monarchs for their laudable roles in the emergence of the new monarch.

The elated hunters pledged their loyalty and support for the new monarch.

Other members of the community – sons and daughters, also joined along the way to swell the rank of the procession as they marched to the Palaces of Agura of Gbagura, Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola, Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso before terminating it at the palace of Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Michael Adedotun Gbadebo, Okukeni IV.

Head, Orile Ilawo hunters, Chief Idowu Tajudeen, told newsmen that they were happy over the selection of MacGregor as their monarch.

Idowu recalled that in the last five years, the clinical [harmacologist had uplifted many of the indigenes through empowerment programmes, provided borehole and solar light facilities in their areas and granted scholarship to the indigent to enhance their access to education.

He said the solidarity walk was meant to thank the sectional monarchs for their support towards the emergence of MacGregor and to also tell the Oba – elect that the town’s folks were solidly behind him.

It was earlier reported that youths from Orile Ilawo, Alagbagba and its environs in hundreds had also stormed the palace of the Oba-elect in solidarity with his emergence as the new Olu of Orile Ilawo.

The enthusiastic youths led by their leaders, Fatai Balogun and Muyideen Omotosho, who are the Olori Odo of Ilawo and Alagbagba respectively praised the emergence of Macgregor as their monarch.

The visiting youths of the ancient Oke Ona Egba settlement boasting of 63 communities and over 143 villages were received by the Oba-elect, who commended them for their support and show of love.

The youths lamented that the community had been suffering for long because of the Obaship interregnum, recalling that the community’s lands that were part of the collective patrimony of Ilawo descendants had been sold out even to expatriates for self – driven motives.

They said those behind the bazaar over community lands were cashing in on the absence of a monarch, expressing the hope that with MacGregor’s emergence, he would use his clout and pedigree to put a stop to it.

Responding to the youths’ lamentations, Macgregor solicited for more cooperation from the people towards ensuring that their plights are properly addressed in manners that do not jeopardize the progress of Orile Ilawo and other adjourning communities and villages.

Macgregor, who emphasized that no community world over, can achieve any meaningful progress without empowering its youths for self-sufficiency, promised that he would not renege in his efforts at attracting meaningful developmental projects to the town.