15-year-old becomes king in Ondo

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu

A 15-year-old, Prince Oloyede Adeyeoba, has been confirmed as the Arujale of Okeluse in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Prince Adeyeoba’s appointment was approved by the Ondo State Executive Council presided over by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

He is the only surviving son of the late king.

Also approved were the appointments of Prince Adewunmi Ogunmolasuyi as the Olupenmen of Upenmen in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo and that of Prince Olorunsola Akinyelure as Odogbo of Ode Omi in Irele Council Area.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lola Fagbemi, told journalists that Ogunmolasuyi’s appointment followed an election conducted by kingmakers in the community.

Fagbemi said the ratification was arrived at after hours of deliberations by the council.

Ogunmolasuyi, 47, emerged the town’s new monarch on September 10, 2019, after polling all the five available votes from the kingmakers to beat his only challenger, Prince Olawole Folarin, who had no vote.

The election was supervised by the Director of Local Government Administration in Owo LGA, Segun Omojuwa.

The Olupenmen stool became vacant in August 2017 after the death of Oba (Rtd Col.) Samuel Ademulegun.