Esa Oke Is on the Verge of a Great New Era
If we play our cards right, open up our hearts and minds, and most importantly, Select the best candidate as our new Owa Omiran, Esa-Oke is about to enter into a great new era of peace, harmony and communal collaboration, opening opportunities for progress with economic and social advancement.
Some six months after our late monarch, HRM Oba Adeyemi Akanbi Adediran, JP, Atipa Owaji II joined his ancestors, Esa Oke is at an advanced stage of the search for a new Owa Omiran, who will direct the affairs of the community going forward.
Luckily for us, we already have several excellent candidates vying for the position.
The new Owa Omiran is to be chosen from the Princes of the Gogodudu/Anaye Ruling House, whose turn it is, among our four Ruling Houses, to nominate a new Oba. Several Princes of that house have put out their names for nomination.
We at ESA-OKE TODAY magazine salute them all. We thank them for their willingness to serve their hometown. Let’s select the most appropriate one of them.
Already all shades of opinion have been canvassed and expressed in the various community-based social media platforms.
ESA-OKE TODAY magazine has not participated in, or contributed to the cacophony of words, views and other discussions written or spoken in the social media. But we believe the discourse shows the wide-spread interest in the selection of the new Owa Omiran, throughout the Esa-Oke community, at home and in the Diaspora. The interest is unprecedented. It has never happened before in the long history of our ancient town.
We salute the courage of the Regent, Ogboni Paul Abimbola Olamiju who has now called for caution in the social media postings.
In latest edition of ESA-OKE TODAY magazine, we enunciated some “Criteria and qualities’ which the prospective Owa Omiran candidates should have. From the feedback reaching us, these Criteria and qualities were widely and publicly applauded and accepted by everyone, including the Regent, Chiefs, Esa-Oke Council of Elders, (ECE), Esa-Oke Renewal Initiative (ERI), Esa Oke Central Union (ECU) and others.
Notably, the Esa Oke Council of Elders reasonably adds that the next Owa Omiran should not be below the age of 40 and not older than 70, with good conduct and character. One good point is that the Regent, Owamiran-in-Council, ECE, ERI and ECU have all consented to this template, as guide for screening of prospective candidates.
Also, luckily for us, several of the candidates that we know of, formally or informally, do meet these criteria.
So, Esa-Oke is on a good path.
What is most important now is that, under the leadership of the Regent, the Kingmakers should conscientiously follow the correct and proper path to the consideration, selection and formal nomination of our new Owa Omiran of Esa-Oke.
First, the Regent and members of the Owa Omiran-in-Council should release, and permit ESA-OKE TODAY magazine to publish the Names, Profiles and the Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of all the contestants. This will enable our people to know and carefully examine the background of those who are contesting to pilot the ship of the community going forward. It will also make the process transparent, inclusive, free and fair.
It is our belief that, at this stage, Esa Oke cannot afford to fail or falter. We have to get it right this time around. We need to move the town forward. The time is now.
Choosing an Oba of the status of an Owa Omiran, a First Class Royalty, is not child’s play. Our people on the various social media platforms should maintain discipline on this very important and historic subject matter. An Oba is not chosen on social media platforms. All traditional and statutory due process as applicable to similar exercises should be applied and observed in our own case too. There should be screening of past antecedents, educational records, career/work records and finally, Ifa divination must be consulted using respectable and honest diviners preferably from outside the town. This is how a clean candidate, not a tainted one, will emerge.
ESA-OKE TODAY magazine believe in the integrity and competence of our Kingmakers (Afobajes). We also know they will survive the slings and arrows of the social media, to produce the best of the best candidates as our next Owa Omiran.
We salute the resiliency and doggedness of the Regent and Ogboni of Esa Oke and other members of the Owa Omiran-in-Council during this difficult period. We also praise the Baale (Clan Head) and other leaders of the Gogodudu (Anaye) ruling house for their steadfastness so far. We also salute the courage and the forthrightness of the Bajimo, (Olori Omo Oba) of Esa Oke for his determination to bring out the best among his peers.
And lastly, we praise all the able Princes that have signified their intention to occupy the sacred throne of their forefathers. It is our prayer that their sacrifice and love for our community will not be in vain.
Esa-Oke is poised to move into a Great New Era. Let’s not miss the chance.
Let’s choose the best Owa Omiran of Esa-Oke; then, let’s ask God, Allah and Ifa to bless him, and continue to bless our town.