The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has installed Oba Rodman Aremu Olawale Yekeen Sakonbari 1, as the Olora of Ora in Kwara State.

The Ora community in Kwara has historical ties to the Oyo Alaafin. Igbomina, including Ora, was part of the “northern Yoruba frontier” that fell under the Oyo Empire’s sphere of influence from the 16th century.

Oyo expanded northward, and Igbomina towns built fortifications against Nupe, Fulani, and Ibadan pressures.

In a release by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, Alaafin said, “Wearing of beaded crowns by Yoruba Obas should be used in such a way that will illustrate the distinguished Yoruba etiquette.

The dignity of our traditions rests on the values of our culture, and we must not allow the society we live in nowadays to rob us of our cherished and valuable cultural values”.

Accompanied by his Queen Consort, Ayaba Abiwunmi, said, the crown incarnates the intuition of royal ancestral force, the revelation of great moral insight in the person of the king, and the glitter of aesthetic experience.

The people must submit themselves, and are absolutely submissive to the authority of the Oba, who in turn is expected to rule for the general good and welfare of the community as a whole.

“In fact, no ruler or leader in a contemporary modern political system has the kind of control and influence possessed by the Oba on the people. Oba is generally seen, recognised, and acknowledged as the custodian of the people’s history and culture.

“A Yoruba Oba personifies the kingdom and represents the reincarnation of the past ancestors of the community. The words of an Oba were orders, and their actions were divine and sacred”.

While praying God to grant the new monarch divine guidance in the arduous task of rulership, Oba Owoade enjoined the people to support and cooperate with their monarch for peace, progress and development.

The new Olora of Oraland, Oba Olawale Yekeen, pledged to dedicate his life to the service of his people and the community and to commit his knowledge, contacts, integrity, and all endowments granted him by God to the growth and development of his people and the community.

The Royal Father also thanked the Alaafin for not only attending the coronation ceremony personally, but also for installing him as the community’s monarch.