Sunday 24th July, 2022, is a day that the people of Iseyin in Oke Ogun geo-political zone, Oyo state, will not forget in a hurry.
It was the day that the immediate past Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiy Salaudeen Adekunle Oloogunebi Ajinese 1 joined his ancestors.
The monarch bid the world farewell at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan after a protracted illness.
Reports emerged that Iseyin is yet to have a new monarch one year after his demise.
Although the selection process has commenced, it has suffered a setback due to the demise of the Aaba Odo Aseyin (Chief Priest).
The Oro priest, Pa Ashiru Ajala Oroleye, joined his ancestors in May this year.
An Iseyin indigene who did not want his name mentioned said that the Chief Priest is the one that will take the new king to Ipebi alongside other priests.
He added that without the Chief Priest, the process of selecting a new monarch cannot be concluded.
“The Chief Priest is the one that will take the new king to Ipebi alongside other priests; without him, the process is not possible,” he said.
REPORTS, however, emerged that Mr Solomon Ajeigbe has emerged as the new Aaba Odo Aseyin (Chief Priest).
The choice of Solomon Ajeigbe to become the new Aaba Odo Aseyin by the Aaba family has given a new hope for a quick selection process of another Aseyin of Iseyin.
Ajeigbe is a transporter, married with a wife and blessed with children.
According to the Balogun Aaba Odo-Iseyin, Chief Olanrewaju Aanuoluwapo John, necessary rites that will usher in the new Aaba Odo Aseyin (Chief Priest) to his palace are ongoing.
”We thank God that we have surmounted the first hurdle towards the selection of new Aseyin of Iseyin, as a Chief under Aaba Odo-Iseyin who is the priest that will take the new Aseyin to the groove for Ipebi rites, I am delighted to tell you that we have picked the right person,” he said.
The absence of a king is being blamed for an increase in the number of criminal activities in the town.
This was confirmed by a socio-economic group in the town, Iseyin Youths Development Group (IYDG).
The group, in a statement, appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to wade into the lingering crisis bedevilling the selection of a new Aseyin of Iseyin.
National President of IYDG, Babajide Oniyo said the absence of an Aseyin, after the demise of the last occupant of the stool has caused what he called “stagnant economic development” in the town.
