Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle: The Strides of a Monarch loved by his People

Feature

By

Femi Salako(Olajemeje,Ilaro)

Uneasy they say lies the head that wears the crown. Many consider royalty as a position of affluence and pride, one filled with pleasure and glamour.

While we cannot deny that there is indeed certain measure of glamour, affluence and societal elevation comes with having blue blood, we cannot also shy away from the fact that it’s a position that comes with great responsibility.Just like they say, with great power comes great responsibility.

This position certainly the case for the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle (Asade Agunloye IV), Chairman of the Ogun Star Council of Obas and the Yewa Traditional Council.

His rise to prominence tells the amazing and humble story of a man loved and favoured by God: even when there were daunting obstacles that could have prevented him from sitting on the throne of his forefathers, he overcame.

In his words:”My father never told me that it would be our lineage’s turn when I eventually became the king. But God made it possible for me.”

His reign since his ascension to the throne of his ancestors on 4th of December 2016 has brought nothing but immense growth and development to the people of his community.

Most laudable is the unique approach employed by the monarch to foster peace and unity among his people. Yewaland consists of people with diverse cultures and languages such as Oori, Anago, Egun, Awori, Ketu etc, but Oba Olugbenle has successfully ensured positive communal integration among these different units.

The people appreciate one another even with their glaring diversity

Also, the highly intelligent and modest king has been able to create a community whose sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora could identify with, and they dedicate their resources to its communal growth and development.

More unique about him is his Christian background, one which many had earlier expressed reservations against, stating that there would be a decline of the traditional belief system and practices of the Yewa people over the installation of a Christian King.

Changing the narrative, he has successfully given all religions in his environs equal opportunity to grow and thrive.

As the current Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas, a position which has been held by older and more experienced royal fathers before him, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle has done quite remarkably well by advancing the goals and objectives of the council, and according to him, this has been made easier because he has afforded himself the opportunity to learn from others before him.

According to him,”I have had the privilege of understudying all these royal fathers and this has helped me greatly in the new task.”His people who in return looks up to him not only as a rotal father but also as a spiritual father.

He continues to make known to all and sundry his desire to see sons and daughters of Yewaland take up strategic positions within the socio-political space of the state and beyond even as he seek to reposition the community for better development and growth.

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