By Ishola Balogun
CITIZENS COMPASS— His Royal Majesty, Oba Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu, has been installed as the Onise of Iseland in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.
Residents of the area described the installation as a triumph of unity, heritage and the enduring will of the people.
The celebration, which began in earnest following the formal presentation of the Staff of Office to the monarch last Friday, has continued to reverberate across the community, with residents expressing relief and excitement over what they regard as the emergence of their preferred traditional ruler.
For many in Ise, the colourful ceremony was more than a traditional installation. It was the culmination of a period of uncertainty and contestation during which, according to community sources, attempts were allegedly made by some individuals to undermine the choice of the people and advance personal interests.
But with the formal installation of Oba Saliu, the people believe that the controversy has finally been settled by the outcome.
What was once a source of anxiety has therefore turned into a season of celebration, with residents saying the victory belongs not to an individual but to the entire community.
As the people danced, sang and celebrated the new monarch, the message appeared unmistakable: the will of the people had prevailed.
The installation ceremony, held at the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, attracted traditional rulers, Baales, community leaders, family members, friends and associates of the new monarch.
The atmosphere became electric immediately after the presentation of the Staff of Office to Oba Saliu by the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Rural Development, Dr Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje, who represented the governor at the ceremony.
The moment the Staff of Office was handed to the monarch, the venue erupted.
Cheers rented the air. Singing and dancing broke out among members of the Ise community, while relatives, friends and well-wishers celebrated what they described as a long-awaited moment.
Oba Saliu also received the Instrument of Appointment, completing the formal process that confirmed his ascension to the traditional stool.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Muftau Olarenwaju; the Oba Oluwa; the Onibeju of Ibeju; several Baales and other traditional rulers.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa, whose ministry hosted the ceremony, ensured that the required processes were duly followed.
Oba Saliu was accompanied by his Olori, while members of his family, traditional rulers and associates stood by him as he formally assumed the responsibilities of the Onise stool.
For the people of Ise, however, the significance of the occasion went beyond the ceremonial presentation of a Staff of Office.
It was an emotional homecoming of sorts—a moment when a community bound by a common ancestry and cultural heritage appeared to close one chapter and open another.
The excitement has since spilled beyond the venue of the installation ceremony, with celebration continuing in various parts of Ise.
Residents have continued to express their joy, while supporters of the new monarch say the development has provided an opportunity for the community to put past disagreements behind it and concentrate on the future.
The mood is also being interpreted by many residents as a message to those who allegedly sought to manipulate the process for selfish ends.
Rather than derail the community’s choice, their actions, according to residents, have only strengthened the resolve of the people and ultimately exposed the futility of attempting to stand against a united community.
Those who once sought to subvert the people’s choice, residents contend, can now only watch from the sidelines as the community celebrates the outcome.
The new monarch now faces the more important task of translating the excitement surrounding his installation into a reign defined by peace, justice, unity and development.
Expectations are high that Oba Saliu will use his position to strengthen unity among the people, preserve the cultural heritage of Ise, promote peaceful coexistence and work with relevant authorities and stakeholders to attract development to the kingdom.
For the people, the celebration is not merely about a new king occupying the throne. It is about hope.
It is about a community that believes its voice has been heard.
It is about heritage, identity and the desire to see a new chapter written in the history of Ise.
And so, as the drums continue to beat and the streets of Ise remain alive with celebration, one thing appears certain: the coronation may have taken place last Friday, but the joy of the people is only beginning.
The new reign has commenced. The expectations are enormous. The journey has begun.
Kabiyesi o! Ki ade pe lori, ki bata pe lese!
