Iyere Agog, as Oba Adako Celebrates 15 Years on the Throne
Date: 21st December, 2025
By Olusegun HOSEA
It was a moment of joy and happiness for the good people of the Iyere community in Owo Local Government of Ondo State, particularly the family of Oba Omotunde Alaba Adako, Iresin II, the Oliyere of Iyere Kingdom, when the whole community was agog with joy as the people celebrated with their paramount ruler for clocking fifteen (15) years on the throne.
The programme was characterised by lots of various traditional activities like royal dances, greetings to the Oba by various chiefs and other age groups in the community, as these served as a sign of loyalty and commitment to the ruling throne. Other side attractions of the event included the chanting of the king’s panegyrics and the praising of famous dignitaries by local chanters for the purpose of adding glamour to the whole event.
The king, who could not hide his feelings when asked how he felt seeing many people rejoicing with him and his family, responded: “Well, I feel great and I feel happy. Fifteen years on the throne, it has been God. God has been awesome to me, my family, and the entire kingdom. So I return all glory to God Almighty. So I’m happy, I’m excited that I’m able to stay fifteen years,” said Oba Omotunde Alaba Adako. “And I wish, I’m hoping that in the next fifteen years, you all will be here again to come and interview me.”
According to the king, Oba Adako said his reign has brought about some development to the community, and the town is trying to raise money for the building of a modern palace as part of the development in the community. His words: “As you can see, today we are launching a five hundred million naira ultra-modern palace. To give you an assurance that after today, when the launching comes up, the money will be used justly enough to build a new palace. But that will come here next year. By the grace of God, you will be in another big building.”
He also charged all traditional rulers to take charge of the security of their domains and appealed to the government to give them security votes to be able to combat insecurity in their territories. He said, “Well, to me, I’ve said it before, time without number, that if you want to tackle insecurity in Nigeria, narrow it down to the grassroots people. They know their communities very well. No security vote, no security for them.” He said if government can recognise them and ensure they are given security votes to guide their local governments, towns, and villages, it is possible for them to challenge criminals. He proffered solutions on how to tackle insecurity, explaining that in the community, “we know those areas, we know where to go, we know how to tackle all of these people in our villages and on our farms.”
Similarly, Oba Adako expressed his confidence in the ongoing reforms being carried out by President Bola Tinubu. “Well, I don’t want to be sentimental about it, but he is a good man. Whatever economic reform he is doing is good in my eyes. He is doing well. He is reforming the economy. As you can see, gradually, we are conquering the issue of insecurity. You can see road construction everywhere. Even the civil servants’ salaries are better now. We are still hoping for more improvements. We will give the government time. By the end of the tenure, the country will be like London,” he said.
In another development, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bola Ademuwagun, in his goodwill message, cleared the air on the challenges associated with the selection of an Oba in most communities, noting that it has now become a thing of the past. He said the challenges in the past affected royal kingdoms in Ondo State, but since the present governor came to power, His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, there has been peace among all traditional institutions.
He explained that the governor had promised that he would not intervene in installing any king anywhere. That is why all recent installations have had no court challenges. He said each community is given the freedom to choose whoever they want, and the cabinet, through His Excellency, confirms it, noting that he has brought sanity into chieftaincy affairs and chieftaincy issues in Ondo State. He said they were also talking about support to the royals in Ondo State, adding that last year, in January or February, His Excellency said he would not interfere because Ondo State had been planning the redevelopment of the streets.
He used the forum to talk about the development the governor had been bringing to the state. He said a company is handling the responsibility, and again, an investor has come. They have gone around the state, identified where they want to operate, received land, and now come with investment. This investment will pilot the whole project, and it is starting now. He further explained that the seaport, which was once lost, has now been renewed. Permission has been granted, and by next year the seaport will restart. He equally explained that Mr President and His Excellency the Governor will be coming to launch it. The petroleum industry is also committed to supplying 60,000 barrels per day between now and January. This will begin, transforming Ondo State from a single-service state into an industrial hub.
Other goodwill messages were also delivered to the celebrant. In his goodwill message, Oba Adegbite Adedoyin Adeleke, the Owa Ale of Ikare Akoko, described the celebrant as a complete gentleman, a good man, and a handsome king loved by the people. He said the celebrant was a man who loved God and therefore wished him a very long reign on his ancestral throne.
Also, the former Chief of Staff to the late Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, Chief Gbenga Ale, described the celebrant as an Oba who had been bringing peace and progress to his kingdom in Iyere. He thanked God for his life and for being on the throne for the past fifteen years. He described him as an Oba who believed in the cooperation of his people for the purpose of bringing development to his kingdom. Chief Ale, however, wished him well on his celebration.
The environment was secured by security personnel, both local and government officers, in order to guard against security breaches. Present at the event were Oba Rotimi Obamuwagun, former Chief of Staff Gbenga Ale, Oba Odidiomo of Larada in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government, Oba Samuel Olumide Adesoye Edema, the Malokun of Atijere, and a host of others.
