Filling The Vacant Stool Of Onikosi of Osi, Ota: The Olota That I Know

By: Prince Oyetoro Oluwaseyi 

From Iloti Compound, 

Osi, Ota. 

 It is no news that preparations are in top gear to fill the vacant stool of one of the quarter stools in Ota, a position left vacant after the transition to the great beyond of late Oba Sikiru Anibire; who hailed from Ikin ruling family, one of the gazetted ruling families in the Osi quarter of Ota. 

 While the next ruling family had received official letter from His Royal Majesty, Oba Professor Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege, the Olota of Ota, asking them to go ahead with the selection process of the new heir apparent to the coveted stool, he enjoined them to make sure that the selection process was carried out in such a manner that depicts 'transparency and all inclusiveness', an advise which the family ensured all through the nomination process, at least, that I witnessed. 

 As common knowledge would have it, there would not be a process as this and doubts about one's genuineness in the family lineage, even when twins of same parents are jostling for a position; example is as witnessed in the ensuing melee in Alagbado, Lagos. 

 A section from two stocks out of a possible 8 sections of the Iloti ruling house had earlier raised a petition about a certain candidate, whose personality and acceptability was becoming a threat to their own candidate or camp, raising doubt about his lineage in the Iloti family, where all relevant quarters were put in copy, including the Iloti family hierarchy and His Majesty, the Olota of Ota. 

 Despite the fact that same petition was shouted down at the day of nomination, one of the quarter kings, the Oloruba of Oruba, Ota, HRH Oba Wadud Eniatimo Deinde, who happened to be a member of Iloti family, insisted that their concern was raised and well attended to before the nomination could go on. A move, which further exposed the petitioner's lack of 'genuineness, sincerity and seriousness' because they were not able to prove the allegation leveled against this gentleman; even when they had the best platform to do so in order to put the matter to rest once and for all, perhaps, in Latin, "onus probandi actori incumbit" which literally means, "He who asserts must prove". 

 Fast forward to the nomination exercise, which put forward eight (8) eminently qualified candidates from the prestigious Iloti ruling house, the exercise was conducted in such a way that shows 'transparency and all inclusiveness' as advised by the Olota of Ota. Though, the other families stood a better chance of raising a very important 'point of order' about the absence of one of the candidates, whom I learnt was far away from home as at when he was nominated, no one raised a dust about this as they do not share a sentiment of 'bitterness' playing down in the same family. 

 Just as the family felt a bit of relief, having concluded a democratic process of nomination exercise which was duly signed by the family hierarchy and witnessed by well over 130 members of same family, there appeared another petition, praying His Majesty, the Olota of Ota, to intervene in the process to ensure that their petition saw the light of the day, this as widely discussed in every corner of Osi, Ota has further asserted that the petitioners were riding on the back of Olota to help them remove the candidate, which to them, is their stumbling block from making their own Candidate stand a better chance. 

Meanwhile, Kabiyesi Olota, as the Chiefs law permit, is the prescribed Authority over Osi, Ota. He has invited the petionee with his family members to his palace to come and prove to him if the allegations leveled against them is genuine or not. Though, this has started raising so much concerns amongst the teeming supporters of the candidate and some relevant stakeholders in the society, but I for one, as a close ally and very good son of His Royal Majesty, is appealing to all and sundry not to fidget nor raise any fear because Olota is a well respected royal father whom God has not only given the spirit of kindness and fairness, but also that of integrity, honesty, impartiality and veracity. He will sure supervise that all parties are well attended to without using ambiguity to conceal the truth.

The Olota that I know would not deliberately alter the wheel of progress and pocket who the youths and elderlies in Osi, Ota really wants because he is also a beneficiary of same process as he was widely accepted, loved and wanted prior to his ascension to the throne of his forebears about a decade ago.

 Kabiyesi Olota will not throw a spanner in the wheel of progress because our dear Osi has long been begging for genuine and true development. 

 As the election take place on Tuesday to decide who takes over the mantle of traditional leadership in Osi, Ota, it is duty bound for all of us, both traditional and political leaders, youth groups, families and friends who wants genuine progress for our dear